WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Bridled Burrfish

Chilomycterus antennatus

Also known as: Bridled Pufferfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2015
Adult
@lrymer · St John, USVI, US Virgin Islands · March 20161 / 1
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Overview

Also called Bridled Pufferfish.

Found singly, usually over seagrass beds, close to coral reefs, in bays and coastal lagoons.

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!

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How to identify

Body shape
spines

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

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Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Western Atlantic, Caribbean, Eastern Atlantic
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found singly, usually over seagrass beds, close to coral reefs, in bays and coastal lagoons.

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Adult photos 1

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Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderTetraodontiformes
    5. familyDiodontidae
    6. genusChilomycterus
    7. speciesChilomycterus antennatus (Cuvier, 1816)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Porcupinefishes-Burrfishes (Diodontidae)