| Family: |
Tetraodontidae (Puffers), subfamily: Canthigasterinae |
| Max. size: |
12 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 6 - 100 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: Christmas Island in the eastern Indian Ocean to the Hawaiian and Society islands, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to Tonga and Rarotonga. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 9-9. Description: Characterized by having variable intensity of colour pattern; whitish color except for brown upper back; yellow area around eye with blue spokes; blue lines on snout; tiny blue spots on body; yellow tail, blue streaked; depth of body at origin of anal fin 2.5-2.7 in SL; head length 2.3-2.7 in SL; snout length 1.3-1.6 in head length; bony interorbital width 3.3-4.0 in head length; caudal peduncle depth 2.2-2.7 in head length; slightly rounded caudal fin (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits outer reef slopes, generally at depths greater than 24 m, but also seen below 6 m (Ref. 1602). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Solitary or paired. Feeds on mollusks, echinoderms, brachiopods, and filamentous algae (Ref. 1602). Maximum depth reported taken from Ref. 128797. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 08 June 2011 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.
