Description

Also known as Balloonfish, Birdbeak Burrfish, Blowfish, Globefish, Hedgehog Fish, Spiny Boxfish, Spotbase Burrfish, Swelltoad, Yellow-spotted Porcupinefish.

Found singly, during the day under ledges and rocks and in sponges, out foraging for food over coastal reefs and slopes.
They feed nocturnally on hard shelled invertebrates.
Juveniles found in the ocean under weedy rafts.
Length - 34cm
Depth - 1-90m
Widespread Mediterranean, Eastern Pacific, Indo-West Pacific

Porcupinefish spines lay flat, but when threatened they can inflate like a "football with spikes" so the spines are facing outwards to deter prey. The have a plated mouth structure for crushing shells or "fingers".
Can give a nasty bite! Ref: https://www.fishbase.in/summary/Cyclichthys-spilostylus.html