Black-blotched Porcupinefish
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- Name / Latin
- Black-blotched Porcupinefish — Diodon liturosus
- Brief description
- A large porcupinefish reaching up to 65 cm in length with short, immobile spines, sandy-brown coloration, and large dark spots. Can inflate when threatened. Contains tetrodotoxin.
- Size:
- up to 65 cm
- Depth:
- 1–90 m
- Habitat:
- Indo-Pacific region, Red Sea, East Africa, Japan, Australia
- Family:
- Diodontidae
- Type:
- Fish
- Activity:
- Nocturnal
- Conservation status:
- Least Concern (LC) — widely distributed species not considered threatened with extinction according to IUCN assessment (2014)
The black-blotched porcupinefish is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific region. It inhabits reef slopes. During the day, it prefers to hide, only coming out to hunt at night. It can be found at depths up to 90 meters, while juveniles prefer to live in lagoons and estuaries.
The black-blotched porcupinefish is a large fish, reaching up to 65 cm in length. The fish has an elongated body with a harmonious head shape and prominent round eyes. The fins usually have a uniform white or light yellow tint. The body coloration varies from light sandy to light brown. The fish's body is covered with short spines that can inflate when threatened, creating an impressive appearance and protecting it from predators. These spines, as well as the liver, skin, and internal organs, contain the poison tetrodotoxin.
