Description:

Dorsal spines: 0; Dorsal rays: 9; Anal spines: 0; Anal rays: 9.

A whitish puffer with pale brown spots and four dark brown to blackish saddles, the middle two saddles extending onto the belly.

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range 4-5.4cm. Max Length: 11cm TL.

Inhabits a variety of coral reef and seagrass habitats in subtidal lagoons and seaward reefs (depth 1-55m). Has been known to settle on and associate with artificial reefs.

Males are territorial and are often seen fighting. A single sexually mature male dominates a social group of several sexually mature females and a number of immature individuals. Each female guards a territory within the male's larger territory. Demersal spawner, eggs are laid in a nest located in the female's territory. Feed mainly on filamentous green and red algae, tunicates, and on smaller amounts of corals, bryozoans, polychaetes, echinoderms, molluscs, and brown and coralline red algae. Forms shoals of 10–100 individuals or more, often with the filefish, Paraluteres prionurus (about 5% of shoal), which mimics the toxic C. valentini to protect it from predators.

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is not caught in the artisanal fishery.

Poisonous to eat this fish is mimicked by the Blacksaddle Filefish (Paraluteres prionurus).

Bray, D.J. 2018. Canthigaster valentini in Fishes of Australia, http://136.154.202.208/home/species/861 (01/04/20).

Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. 2020. FishBase. Canthigaster valentini https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Canthigaster-valentini (01/04/20).

Shao, K. et al 2014. Canthigaster valentini. The IUCN Red List 2014: e.T193796A2278385. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T193796A2278385.en.  (01/04/20).