Pufferfish (Porcupine)

About the Pufferfish (Porcupine)

When threatened, they inflate by gulping water, becoming a spiky ball up to 3x their normal size. Their spines are modified scales that point outward when inflated. They contain tetrodotoxin, the same deadly toxin as pufferfish. They are sometimes called balloonfish or blowfish. They are slower swimmers than most fish due to their round body shape. They can inflate in under 2 seconds. Over 20 species exist. They are found in all tropical seas. Some species produce sounds by grinding their jaw teeth. They are generally docile and approachable.