Animalia Life
Triodon macropterus
FAMILY
Triodontidae
TAXONOMY
Triodon macropterus Lesson, 1831, Mauritius, Indian Ocean.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
Afrikaans: Drietand-blaasop; Japanese: Uchiwafugu.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Body oblong and compressed, with a well-developed ventral
flap. The teeth are quite large and arranged in a beaklike
plate; the lower teeth are completely fused, and the upper
teeth are separated by a suture. Color is golden yellow with
hints of white. There is an irregular black blotch, ringed in
white, located medially at the base of the ventral flap. The
dorsal and anal fins are relatively small and positioned posterior
to the ventral flap. The dorsal fin has two spines and
10–12 soft rays, and the anal fin has nine to 10 soft rays.
The caudal fin is slightly forked. Grows to 15.7 in (40 cm) in
total length.
DISTRIBUTION
Tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific from East
Africa to Indonesia and the Philippines north to Japan and
south to Australia and New Caledonia.
HABITAT
A deep-slope demersal species found above the bottom at
depths of 164–984 ft (50–300 m).
BEHAVIOR
Not well known. Can inflate its body with water when threatened
or attacked.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Not well known but probably feeds on benthic invertebrates.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Not well known. Probably lays demersal eggs. The larvae are
pelagic.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not listed by the IUCN.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
No commercial importance. May be taken incidentally for
larger aquaria.
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