Description:

Dorsal spines: 0; Dorsal rays: 9-11; Anal spines: 0; Anal rays: 8-10. 

A small sharpnose puffer with long conical snout and small terminal mouth. Body moderately compressed with short-based dorsal and anal fins.

Colour. Greenish to brownish upper body with whitish lower half. Large dark pale-edged spot around dorsal fin with electic blue line around base of fin giving ocellated 
appearance to spot. The colouration of this species is variable depending upon the surrounding habitat. Often exhibits bluish greenish lines radiating from the eye and blue 
lines on snout. Pale blue and orange spots on belly. 
 

Maturity: Unknown. Max length : 10.0 cm TL. 
 

Inhabits inner reef flats and sheltered lagoons often on algal or silty reefs and associated sandy rubble areas (depth 1-15 m). Feeds mainly on filamentous green algae and to 
a lesser extent on fleshy and coralline red algae and benthic invertebrates. Solitary or in groups. Oviparous. Forms monogamous pairs, although alternative mating systems have
been observed. Parental care is maternal and males and females maintain separate territories. 

Single-species schools of over 10,000 individual C. bennetti have been observed off Sulawesi at depths of 7–30 m, accompanied by mass mortalities (Vail & Sinclair-Taylor 2011).

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is not subject to fishery pressure. 
 

Photo courtesy Eleanor Brighton and Chris Mason-Parker (c) 2022 Blue Safari Seychelles/Marine Conservation Society, Seychelles. Photograph taken at Alphonse group 2022.
 

Australian Museum (2020). Bennett's Puffer, Canthigaster bennetti (Bleeker, 1854). https://australian.museum/learn/animals/fishes/bennetts-puffer-canthigaster-bennetti-bleeker-1854/ (06/08/22). 
Bray, D.J. (2018). Canthigaster bennetti in Fishes of Australia, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/854 (07/08/22)
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2022). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/6541 (06/08/22). 
Shao, K. et al. (2014). Canthigaster bennetti. The IUCN Red List 2014: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T193656A2254996.en. (06/08/22).
Vail, A.L. & Sinclair-Taylor, T. (2011). Mass schooling and mortality of Canthigaster bennetti in Sulawesi. Coral Reefs (2011) 30:251 DOI 10.1007/s00338-010-0706-2.

Nevill, J.E.G., Brighton, E. & Mason-Parker, C. (2022). Canthigaster bennetti, Bennett's sharpnose puffer. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/canthigaster-bennetti-bleeker-1854/