| Family: |
Diodontidae (Porcupinefishes (burrfishes)) |
| Max. size: |
65 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 90 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Society Islands, north to southern Japan, south to New South Wales. Not present in Hawaii (Ref. 9680). Southeast Atlantic: southeast coast of South Africa (Ref. 4423). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-16; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 14-16. Spines short (Ref. 1602). Several yellow-edged dark blotches on body (Ref. 559). D. liturosus differs from D. hystrix by its shorter spines and color (Ref. 37816).
Description: Characterized further by Brown body color grading to white ventrally; dark blotches on back, on side and below eye; numerous, short erectile spines on head and body, spines on forehead shorter than behind pectoral fins, non wholly on caudal peduncle; 16-21 spines from snout to base of dorsal fin (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits reef edges and slopes (Ref. 6113, 48637). Hides in caves and ledges during the day and forages at night (Ref. 9680). Also found below plate-corals during the day and often deep, ranging to at least 40 meters depth. Juveniles occur in lagoons and estuaries (Ref. 48637). Solitary. Feeds on crustaceans and mollusks. Not usually marketed (Ref. 9680). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 15 August 2023 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
reports of ciguatera poisoning |
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