White-Spotted Pufferfish

The White-Spotted Pufferfish belongs to the family Tetraodontidae. They can be found dwelling in Indo-Pacific Oceans on reefs and in lagoons, estuaries, and some tidepools. Pufferfish can come in different colors and patterns. White-Spotted pufferfish are either a grayish color with white spots or can be yellowish with white spots. Pufferfish do not have scales like other fish but have thick and rough skin with spines (some are poisonous). However, this species is poisonous. The neurotoxin in this fish comes from another symbiotic relationship. Certain types of bacteria like Pseudoalteromonas tetraodonis, live in the pufferfish’s organs and on their skin. This type of bacteria produces tetrodotoxin, a powerful neurotoxin (this is how they are poisonous). Their stomach is the most elastic part of its body. They can take in water to inflate themselves into a spiny ball. This makes it hard for predators to eat them. Not only do they have their own spines to poke predators, but thanks to the bacteria they have poisonous spines. Animals in the wild all have a unique way to reproduce. The male pufferfish will build a flattened circle in the sand and when a female is near, the male will swim around throwing sand to get the female's attention. If the female chooses his circle, she will release her eggs and the males will fertilize them. The fertilized eggs will drop into that sand circle and grow until they hatch and live a solitary life.

#pufferfish #educate #themoreyouknow #marinezoologist #marinelife #oceancreatures #animalfacts #animals #animallover #sealife #seaanimals #ocean #marineconservation #keeptheseaplasticfree #wildlifeseekers #wildlifeconservation #savetheocean #savetheplanet #marinebiology #oceanography #zoology #blackzoologist #tarimahthezoologist

🐬🐋🦈🐡🐙🐧🦦🐠🦑