Arothron stellatus, also known as the stellate pufferfish,[3] starry puffer,[4] or starry toadfish,[5] is a demersal marine fish belonging to the family Tetraodontidae. It is found in shallow water in the Indo-Pacific region.[3][4]
Description
Arothron stellatus is a very large pufferfish that grows up to 120 cm (47 in) in length.[6] Its body is oval shaped, spherical and relatively elongated. The skin is not covered with scales but is prickly. The fish has no pelvic fin and no lateral line. The dorsal fin and the anal fin are small, symmetric, and located at the rear end of the body. The head is large with a short snout that has two pairs of nostrils, and the mouth is terminal with four strong teeth.[7]
The background coloration goes from white to grey, and the body is harmoniously dotted with black spots. The ventral area is usually clearer. The size of the spots is inversely proportional to the size of the fish; thus, a young individual will have large spots and adults of maximal size will have small spots. The juveniles have a yellowish body background coloration with dark stripes. The young adults still have stripes on the ventral area that will turn to spots later, and also some recollection of yellow on the body.
Distribution and habitat
This species is found in tropical and subtropical waters from the Indian Ocean and Red Sea as far as Polynesia, southern Japan, the western, northern and eastern coasts of Australia and Lord Howe Island.[8] It is a relatively uncommon species and lives close to external reef slopes and sheltered lagoons with clear water, but mainly in close proximity to sandy areas, at depths from the surface down to about 58 m (190 ft).[9]
Behavior
Arothron stellatus feeds on benthic invertebrates, sponges, algae, the polyps of corals such as Acropora, crustaceans and mollusks.[7]
This pufferfish is diurnal. It is mainly solitary and defends a territory.[7]
Potential danger
Arothron stellatus contains a highly toxic poison, tetrodotoxin, in its ovaries and to a lesser extent its skin and liver, which protects it from voracious predators. It becomes toxic as it eats bacteria that contain the toxin.[10] To ward off potential enemies, they can inflate their bodies by swallowing air or water.
References
- ^ Shao, K.; Liu, M.; Jing, L.; Hardy, G.; Leis, J.L.; Matsuura, K. (2014). "Arothron stellatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T193712A2264205. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T193712A2264205.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ Bailly, N. (2013). Arothron stellatus. In: Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. (2013) FishBase.
- ^ a b Field, Richard; Field, Mary (2016). Reef Fish Of The Red Sea. Routledge. pp. 161–162. ISBN 9781317847885.
- ^ a b Allen, Gerald R. (2009). Field Guide to Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia. Western Australian Museum. p. 244. ISBN 9781920843892.
- ^ Gopalakrishnakone, P.; National University of Singapore. Venom & Toxin Research Group (1990). A Colour Guide to Dangerous Animals. NUS Press. p. 77. ISBN 9789971691509.
- ^ "Starry puffer – Encyclopedia of Life".
- ^ a b c Lieske, Ewald and Myers,Robert (2009) Coral reef fishes, Princeton University Press, ISBN 9780691089959
- ^ "Arothron stellatus, Stellate puffer". Fishbase.
- ^ "Starry puffer – Encyclopedia of Life".
- ^ Noguchi, Tamao; Arakawa, Osamu (2008). "Tetrodotoxin – Distribution and Accumulation in Aquatic Organisms, and Cases of Human Intoxication". Marine Drugs. 6 (2): 220–42. doi:10.3390/md20080011. PMC 2525488. PMID 18728726.
External links
- Fishes of Australia : Arothron stellatus
- Photos of Arothron stellatus on Sealife Collection
