Porcupinefish
| Class: Fishes: 4
classes |
Diet: Shellfish |
| Order:
Tetraodontiformes: Puffer, Triggerfishes |
| Size:
91 cm (35 3/4 in) |
| Family: No Fish family
information |
Conservation Status:
Non-threatened |
| Scientific Name: Diodon
hystrix |
Habitat: most common
in shallow waters, turtle grass beds |
| Range:
Pacific, Indian and Atlantic Oceans: tropical areas |
 Similar
to its relatives the pufferfishes in that it can inflate its body, the
porcupinefish is covered with long, sharp spines; these spines normally
lie flat but stand out when the body is inflated. It is clearly almost
impossible for any predator to tackle this globular pin cushion, and this
method of defense compensates the fish for its lack of speed and mobility.
It swims slowly, with undulations of its small dorsal and anal fins; it
lacks pelvic fins. The porcupinefish has two fused teeth in each
jaw, making a sharp, bird-like beak with which it crushes hard-shelled
prey such as crabs, mollusks and sea urchins.
  
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