Puffer Fish - Tetraodontidae

These little guys are the puppies of the ocean. Their big eyes and round bodies create the illusion that they are completely innocent and harmless.

Think again.

These are the second most poisonous vertebrates in the world.

One adult Pufferfish contains enough poison to kill 30 adult humans. Not so innocent?

They have this crazy elastic skin/bodies that can double, or even triple in size on demand. This stops predators because their prey is suddenly too big to swallow.

Scientists think Pufferfish adapted this because they were too slow and clumsy to swim away from their predators, which is likely true. They have tiny little fins that make precise but slow movement.

If the predator managed to catch the Pufferfish before it inflates, it would soon regret it's decision because Pufferfish contain a chemical called Tetrodotoxin which is foul tasting and in most cases poisonous to fish and humans.

Tetrodotoxin is found mainly in the ovaries and liver, but can be traced through other parts of the body also.

Apparently sharks and some large fish are immune to the pufferfish's poison, and in some places in Japan, farmers have bred un-poisonous Pufferfish by limiting their diet to certain foods.

In Japan, Fugu(Pufferfish) is a delicacy that is only prepared by trained and licensed chefs because if prepared wrong, it could kill customers, which happens annually up to 44 times in Japan alone. 

Tetrodotoxin paralyses the victims muscles, while the victim stays fully conscious and eventually dies from asphyxiation which is when the body can't get enough oxygen.

Not so cute.

There are 120 species of Pufferfish, and some can grow up to 100cm in length.

These fish are only found in tropical seas.

All species of Pufferfish can move their eyes independently and some are similar to chameleons in that they can camouflage into their surrounding environments.

Pufferfish eat algae and small invertebrates  Some larger species break open clams, mussels and shellfish with their four big teeth (which is where their scientific name comes from).

Pufferfish mating has never been witnessed in the open ocean, but divers and scientists have come across male Pufferfish creating spherical shapes in the sand on the seafloor which is believed to attract the female and serve a safe place for her to lay her eggs.

Some species of Pufferfish are considered threatened by pollution , due to habitat loss (coral reefs etc), and over fishing. But most populations are stable and not in need of urgent action.

Refreshing to hear hey?

If we keep up the good work all marine species will be as bright as this one!