Teleostei (teleosts) >
Tetraodontiformes (Puffers and filefishes) >
Tetraodontidae (Puffers) > Tetraodontinae
Etymology: Sphoeroides: Greek, sphaira = ball + Greek, suffix, oides = similar to (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Jenyns.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 10 - 60 m (Ref. 91172). Subtropical; 34°N - 19°S, 123°W - 70°W
Eastern Pacific: California, USA to Pisco, Peru and the Galapagos Islands.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm 26.5  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 44.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9349); common length : 18.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9349); max. published weight: 1.6 kg (Ref. 132377)
Found on soft bottom (Ref. 9349). Juveniles inhabit estuaries (Ref. 9349). Makes a loud grating noise (Ref. 3157).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Eschmeyer, W.N., E.S. Herald and H. Hammann, 1983. A field guide to Pacific coast fishes of North America. Boston (MA, USA): Houghton Mifflin Company. xii+336 p. (Ref. 2850)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Poisonous to eat (Ref. 4690)
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial
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