Smooth puffer
📖 Overview
Inhabits inshore and near-shore areas, over sand or mud bottoms. Usually found alone or in small, loose aggregates. Adults are pelagic, but near continental margins; young are commonly found on coastal and offshore banks . Feeds on fish and shrimps . Minimum depth from Ref. 26912. Its flesh is very delicate; nevertheless, in certain region like the Pacific and the Indian Ocean, it is toxic (particularly the skin and the viscera) . Poisonous, should not be eaten .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 15; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 12 - 13. : short and / or deep.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Smooth puffer is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
Oviparous .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; brackish; pelagic-neritic; depth range 10 - 180 m . Subtropical; 44°N - 40°S, 97°W - 16°E Southwest Atlantic: Sergipe, Brazil (Ref.
🌿 Ecology
fish and shrimps (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Holocanthus melanothos | Gronow | 1854 | Synonym |
| Lagocephalus pachycephalus | Ranzani | 1839 | Synonym |
| Tetraodon laevigatus | Linnaeus | 1766 | Synonym |
| Tetraodon pachycephalus | Ranzani | 1839 | Synonym |
| Tetrodon laevigatus | Linnaeus | 1766 | Synonym |
| Tetrodon lineolatus | Poey | 1868 | Synonym |
| Tetrodon munnozius | Larrañaga | 1923 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 786 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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