Arothron meleagris

(Anonymous, 1798)

Vernacular names
English : Guineafowl puffer
French : Poisson-ballon pintade

Classification
Class : Teleostei
Order : Tetraodontiformes
Family : Tetraodontidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Adults can reach a maximum body length of 50 cm. Small mouth and visible sharp teeth. Commonest color phase is dark brown with lots of small white dots, the other is bright yellow with sometimes small brown areas with white dots.

Range and habitat
Indo-Pacific area, from east Africa, south to South Africa, eastwards to southern Japan and north Australia, eastwards to Mexico, south to Ecuador. Lives in lagoons and seaward reefs, in coral reach areas, at depths down to 70 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : Widespread species, not numerous but reasonably common. May be locally declining as strongly linked with coral reefs which are at high risk.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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