Did you know the Pufferfish can increase its body two to three times in size as the stomach fills with water? It becomes too big for predators to eat.

Tetraodontidae

Description • The porcupine fish has a light tan body with brown splotches along its back and sides. It differs from the pufferfish with its long spines that lay flat and completely cover its body. They have larger eyes for night activity and grows to 15 inches in length.

Habitat • Usually found resting under ledges.

Diet • They eat invertebrates such as hermit crabs and sea urchins and the shells of molluscs.

The organs, and occasionally the flesh, are extremely toxic and can cause fatal poisoning.

Pufferfish or 'O'opu Hue
Arothron meleagris

Description • Growing to 13 inches in length this pufferfish is covered with white spots . It is the more commonly seen state of coloration. Two other stages occur one of which is all yellow with a few dark spots. When threatened, it inflates its body with water until it is virtually globular. It has no spines like the Porcupine fish and its skin feels like velcro.

Habitat • Found near coral upon which it feeds.

Diet • Pufferfish are predators on slowly-moving or immobile bottom-dwelling animals like crabs, snails,and sea urchins.