Sphoeroides parvus

(Shipp & Yerger, 1969)

Vernacular names
English : Least puffer
French : Poisson-ballon nain

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

Identification
Adults can reach a total length of 15 cm. Large head with small beak-like mouth and large eye. Very small fins except from caudal fin. Coloration beige with dark brown, black and white mottling. Chin and belly are pure white.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in the western Atlantic Ocean in the Gulf of Mexico, from Florida to Yucatan peninsula and to Cuba. Lives in coastal waters, bays and estuaries, on muddy and sandy bottom, to 50 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species seems to be relatively safe and locally abundant but it is often caught as by-catch by shrimp trawls. This can become a threat.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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