Arothron nigropunctatus

(Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Vernacular names
English : Blackspotted puffer
French : Poisson-ballon à taches noires

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

Identification
Adults can reach a maximum body length of 33 cm. Small mouth and visible sharp teeth. Commonest color phase is grey to beige with scattered black spots and brown markings on head. Bright yellow morph with black spots also occurs.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in the Indo-Pacific area from East Africa (excluding Red Sea) to Micronesia, north to Japan, south to northern Australia. Lives in outer reef crests and slopes with rich invertebrates growth, to 25 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species is widespread and seems to be fairly 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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