Puffer Fish

The puffer fish, which has various other names like globefish, swellfish, fugu, and blowfish, is one of the most interesting and unusual species of fish, with several unique characteristics. It is called all these names because it can puff up to about double its size, by swallowing water or air, when it feels threatened. Although, in this swollen state, the puffer fish is able to swim at just about half its usual speed.

What is the Habitat of the Puffer Fish?

There are around 100 varieties of puffer fish, and most of them inhabit tropical and sub-tropical marine regions, which includes coral reefs, in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic Oceans. Puffer fish generally occur in coastal areas, although some can even be found in the ocean or the deep sea. Many puffer fish can also be found in fresh as well as brackish waters. In fact, about 39 species of puffer fish that inhabit marine waters swim into fresh or brackish waters to breed or feed, while some species of puffer fish live entirely in fresh water, without ever entering the sea.

Interesting Features of the Puffer Fish

• Tetraodontidae is the scientific name of the puffer fish, which pertains to their four large sized teeth that are fused together to form a lower and upper plate. They use these specialized teeth to crush the shells of mollusks and crustaceans, which are their natural sources of food.
• The plump, round body of the puffer fish is one of its main distinguishing characteristics. And another unique feature of this unique fish is that its skin is thick and leathery, which has tiny spines instead of scales, that are set deeply into the pores. As long as the puffer fish is not alarmed, the spines are not apparent, however, the moment it spies a predator, the puffer fish immediately balloons its body up, making the spines erect. Although most species of puffer fish are small in size, measuring about 3-20 inches, some species can grow up to 3 feet in size, making them look quite incredible in their swollen state.
• The puffer fish has a lineage that is very ancient, going back centuries. It is thought that the puffer fish in the past looked like the sunfish, eventually evolving to look like belonging to the perch family, particularly the surgeonfish, which are said to be the puffer’s ancestors. The puffer fish today has a single dorsal fin, which is located opposite its anal fin. They do not have any pelvic fins, and can move only by actively moving their anal and dorsal fins.
• The puffer fish can inflate its body in a just a few seconds by swallowing great gulps of water or air, which it usually does at the water’s surface. The puffer is able to accomplish this incredible feat due to a kind of sac attached to its intestines. It uses a kind of muscular valve to shut off its esophagus and stomach, and then it uses its specialized gills, which behaves like a suction pump, to fill up the sac. As the puffer fish does not have any pelvic bones or ribs, they can expand themselves to a great extent. However, in order to not blow themselves up too much, there are controls in the muscles of its skin, which help in regulating the expansion.
• Once the body of the puffer fish is fully extended, its predators can neither grip its body nor bite through the skin. As a matter of fact, it has been found that the tough body of the puffer fish remains unscathed even after a grown man standing on it. The puffer fish usually inflates its body with water, instead of air, since it can expel water more easily. It does this by releasing the muscular valves, allowing the water to be ejected through the gills and mouth. Puffers generally do not inflate their body with air, since it finds it more difficult to get rid of it, which it does in small amounts through its gills.

The Poisonous Puffer Fish as a Delicacy

Many parts of the puffer fish, such as the skin, ovaries, muscles, and liver, have a very potent and paralyzing poison known as tetrodotoxin, which is around thousand times more deadly than cyanide. And yet, the puffer fish, known as fugu in Japan and bogeo in Korea, is considered a delicacy in these countries. Specially trained chefs prepare this deadly fish, since they are the ones who know how to reduce the poisonous effects of the fish. Despite this, it is said that about a hundred diners die every year after consuming this delicacy. There is no antidote for the particular poison of the puffer fish. However, some species of puffer fish are not poisonous. For example, the Takifugu oblongus is not poisonous. And neither are the specially farmed puffers.

Although the puffer is a poisonous fish, it is a popular aquarium fish the world over. In fact, they are known to become quite tame, and display individuality. However, care must be taken not to hand feed them, due to their sharp teeth. Some owners of puffer fish induce their fish to puff up to show it off to friends when they come over, but this causes a lot of stress to the animal and should not be done.