Order : Tetraodontiformes
Family : TETRAODONTIDAE
Species : Arothron manilensis
Maximum Length : 31 cm

Pufferfish are known by numerous names including Blowfish, Toadfish or Balloonfish. They inhabit coastal waters including brackish mangrove inlets and fringing, shallow coral reefs, though some species do occur in freshwater.

The Narrow-lined Puffer is mainly associated with muddy substrates in river estuaries, brackish mangrove habitats, coral lagoons and seagrass beds.

The species is identified by the distinctive arrangement of dark, narrow longitudinal lines on the dorsum and flanks. Body colour is pale brown to white, and the tail is creamy, or sometimes yellow, edged with black.

The teeth of pufferfish are fused into hard plates which can inflict a powerful bite strong enough to crush shellfish and crustaceans on which they prey. They may bite in self-defence, or balloon their body by ingesting water and extending the spines which cover the body. Some species can also be highly toxic.

The Narrow-lined Pufferfish species occurs along the coast of Borneo, Sulawesi, the Philippines and other island chains stretching to Australia, as well as smaller islands of the western Pacific Ocean.

Fig 1 : Narrow-lined Puffer in fringing mangrove habitat at Manando, Sulawesi, Indonesia.

Fig 2 : Fringing mangroves at low-tide, off Bahowo Village, Manado, Sulawesi, Indonesia.


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