Animalia Life

Diodon hystrix
FAMILY
Diodontidae
TAXONOMY
Diodon hystrix Linnaeus, 1758, India.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
English: Spot-fin porcupinefish; French: Diodon porc-йpic; German: Gepunkter Igelfisch; Afrikaans: Penvis; Japanese: Nezumifugu.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Body elongate, stocky, and inflatable. Several long, strong spines cover the body, with a row of 20 stretching from the snout to the dorsal fin. The jaw has two fused teeth that are quite adept at crushing food items. There are 14–17 soft rays in the dorsal fin and 14–16 soft rays in the anal fin. The body color is grayish-tan, with small black spots and a white belly. A dusky-colored ring surrounds the belly. Grows to more than 35.4 in (90 cm) in total length.
DISTRIBUTION
Essentially circumglobal in tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate waters. From East Africa to San Diego, California, and Chile and the Galapagos Islands. Also in the Atlantic from Massachusetts and Bermuda to Brazil and from the Iberian Peninsula south to southern Africa.
HABITAT
Frequents coral and rocky reefs, usually in caves and holes to a depth of 164 ft (50 m). Swims in the water column during lowlight periods.
BEHAVIOR
Generally solitary. Reportedly nocturnal but occasionally active in daylight.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Prefers hard-shelled benthic invertebrates that include gastropods, hermit crabs, and sea urchins.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Not well known, but paired courtship involving chasing has been observed just before sunset. Probably spawns demersal eggs. The larvae are pelagic.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not listed by the IUCN. May be vulnerable to overfishing, because it is normally not common anywhere.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Poisonous and not taken for food but collected and dried for use as ornaments.

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