| Family: |
Tetraodontidae (Puffers), subfamily: Tetraodontinae |
| Max. size: |
22.6 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; brackish; marine |
| Distribution: |
Western Atlantic: Honduras to Santa Catarina, Brazil (Ref. 57756). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-8; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 7-7. Upper two-thirds of head and body with groups of small dark brown spots; whitish ventrally; caudal fin with a dusky bar basally and a 2nd but fainter dark bar in outer middle part of fin (Ref. 13442). |
| Biology: |
Found over soft bottoms generally with vegetation such as Thalassia testudinum. Prefers turbid water (Ref. 9710). Feeds on marine invertebrates (Ref. 36453). Locally consumed but its visceral organs may be toxic. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 07 June 2011 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
reports of ciguatera poisoning |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
