| Family: |
Tetraodontidae (Puffers), subfamily: Tetraodontinae |
| Max. size: |
45 cm SL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range 1 - 25 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-West Pacific: India eastward through Indonesia to New Guinea, northward to southern Japan, southward to northern Australia. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-10; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 9-10. Body covered with prickles. White lines encircling eye (Ref. 559).
Description: Characterized further by having curved light and dark bands on snout, cheek and belly; head and body with spinules except around mouth and posterior caudal peduncle, best developed spinules on ventral surface; short snout. Length about 2.0-2.3 in head length; rounded caudal fin, length 4.0-5.0 in SL (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Occurs in shallow water reefs near sand or seaweed areas. Also found in estuaries and protected muddy bays; juveniles in mangroves and entering the lower reaches of streams (Ref. 9407, 48637). Solitary (Ref. 90102). Adults at moderate depths, often laying on the mud during the day (Ref. 48637). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 24 August 2011 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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