A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Arothron mappa
Also known as Map Pufferfish, Scribbled Pufferfish, Scribbled Toadfish and Arothron Puffer. They feed nocturnally on crustaceans and mollusks, and grow to a length of about 60cm. The skin of pufferfish is covered in a toxic mucus, and can be fatal to humans if ingested. When threatened, they puff up their bodies to increase their apparent size in an attempt to deter predators.
Found singly in clear-water lagoons and seaward reefs (at depths of 5 to 30m) that are rich in invertebrate growth, often in caves during the day with adults found feeding at night. Widespread in the Indo-Pacific region.
This was was adult-sized, about 60cm long, and looked really hefty. Too bad it wouldn't come out of its hidey-hole so I could take a better picture of it.
2 Comments
Thanks, Maria!
very nice!