WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Southern Puffer

Sphoeroides nephelus

Also known as: Blowfish, Pufferfish, Southern Smooth Puffer, Swelltoad, Toadfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2014
Adult
@Jlaw89 · Johns Pass, United States · March 20161 / 2
01

Overview

Found singly, or in small schools, over rubble, sand, and seagrass beds, in protected coastal waters, of bays and estuaries. Hiding by burying in the sand when alarmed.

The bodies of Pufferfish are covered in a toxic mucus, if the skin or flesh is consumed it can be fatal to humans.
When threatened they will puff up like a football to deter predators.

02

How to identify

Pattern
speckled

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Western Atlantic
  • Country only · 2
LIVES IN

Found singly, or in small schools, over rubble, sand, and seagrass beds, in protected coastal waters, of bays and estuaries.

04

Adult photos 2

05

Discussion

Comments are checked by a moderator before they appear.

No comments yet. Seen one, or got a question about it? Start the discussion.

    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderTetraodontiformes
    5. familyTetraodontidae
    6. genusSphoeroides
    7. speciesSphoeroides nephelus (Goode & Bean, 1882)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Puffers (Tetraodontidae)