Photo. (c) 2020 John Nevill.
Photo. (c) 2020 John Nevill.
Photo. (c) 2020 John Nevill.
Scientific Name: Arothron immaculatus
English Name: Immaculate puffer
Creole Name: Bours gomon
French Name:
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC)
Description:
Dorsal spines: 0; Dorsal rays: 9-11 (usually 10); Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 9-10.
A medium-sized pufferfish. Head and body covered with small slender spinules. Nasal organ anterior and medial to eye, consisting of two fleshy tentacles branching from a common base. Caudal peduncle compressed. Dorsal and anal fins rounded to slightly pointed, the dorsal entirely anterior to the anal. Caudal fin slightly rounded and moderately long. Pectoral fins truncate to slightly rounded.
Colour. Pale greyish to brownish body often mottled. Often yellow around mouth. Large dark patch at base of pectoral fin and around gill opening. Median fins yellowish, caudal fin with dark edges. Pectoral fins with yellow rays and hyaline membranes.
Size:
Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max length: 30.0 cm TL.
Habitat and Ecology:
Inhabits seagrass areas, mangroves, weed beds and silty areas adjacent to reefs (depth 1-30m). Primarily carnivorous but also feeds on seagrasses and mangroves. Typically solitary. Inflates abdomen with water when disturbed erecting spinules over body.
Fishery Status:
This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It may be caught in the fish trap and net fisheries but is discarded when caught because it is poisonous to eat.
Notes:
Poisonous to eat – due to accumulation of toxins in skin, gonads and liver.
The juvenile photographed here was observed near the surface sheltering beneath floating sea weed.
References:
Bray, D.J. Arothron immaculatus in Fishes of Australia, http://136.154.202.208/home/species/846 (14/08/20).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. 2020. FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/7188 (14/08/20).
Randall, J.E. (1985). On the Validity of the Tetraodontid Fish Arothron manilensis (Proce). Japanese Journal of Ichthyology. Vol. 32, No, 3. 1985.
Shao, K. et al 2014. Arothron immaculatus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2014: e.T193805A2279861. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T193805A2279861.en. (14/08/20).
Citation:
Nevill, J.E.G. (2020). Seychelles Seatizens. Arothron immaculatus. https://seatizens.sc/species/arothron-immaculatus-bloch-schneider-1801/
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