Sphoeroides dorsalis Longley, 1934
Marbled puffer
Sphoeroides dorsalis
photo by NOAA\NMFS\Mississippi Laboratory

Family:  Tetraodontidae (Puffers), subfamily: Tetraodontinae
Max. size:  20 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 18 - 100 m
Distribution:  Western Central Atlantic: Throughout the area, from North Carolina, USA to Suriname.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-8; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 7-7
Biology:  Found over soft bottoms.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 07 June 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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