Oceanic puffer
📖 Overview
Primarily an oceanic , pelagic species but may enter estuaries . Feeds on crustaceans and squids . Suspected responsible for fatal poisoning . Should not be eaten .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 16; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 11 - 13. Adults dark green, brownish grey, or blue above, white below; juveniles with about 9 bars on back, from eye to dorsal fin; dark spots on front and middle of belly and on side near pectoral base in specimens less than 33 cm .: fusiform / normal.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Oceanic puffer is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Oceanic puffer is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Oviparous .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; benthopelagic; oceanodromous ; depth range 10 - 476 m , usually 10 - 100 m . Subtropical
🌿 Ecology
crustaceans and squids (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Oceanic puffer is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 18 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 406 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Oceanic puffer has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Blue Blaasop · Ocean puffer · Oceanic Blaasop · Oceanic Puffer · Oceanic Pufferfish · Oceanic puffer, Pufferfish · Pelagic Toadfish · Puffer · Puffer-fish · Rabbit Puffer · Tamboril · pufferfish |
| 🌍AFR | Bloublaasop |
| 🇸🇦Arabic | ينفوخ المحيط |
| 🏳️Catalan | Peix bola oceànic |
| 🌍CES | čtverzubec oceánský |
| 🌍DIV | ރާގޮނޑި ކޮލި |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | mustaeväpallokala |
| 🇫🇷French | Compère Lièvre · Compère Océanique · Compère océanique, Compère lièvre, Tétraodon-lièvre océanique · orbe étoilé |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Capolepre |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | Kumasakafugu · クマサカフグ |
| 🇳🇱Dutch | Hazenkopvis |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Baiacu · Baiacu-azul · Baiacu-xaréu · Peixe-balão |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Обыкновенный зайцеголовый иглобрюх · Океанский зайцеголовый иглобрюх |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Pez Globo · Tamboril Liebre · Tamboril Oceánico · botete oceánico |
| 🌍TUR | mavi balon baligi |
| 🇨🇳Chinese | 兔頭魨 |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lagocephalus exilis | Tanaka | 1916 | Synonym |
| Lagocephalus lagocephalus lagocephalus | Linnaeus | 1758 | Synonym |
| Lagocephalus lagocephalus nigridorsum | Fowler | 1944 | Synonym |
| Lagocephalus lagocephalus oceanicus | Jordan & Evermann | 1903 | Synonym |
| Lagocephalus oceanicus | Jordan & Evermann | 1903 | Synonym |
| Lagocephalus pennanti | Swainson | 1839 | Synonym |
| Tetraodon janthinus | Vaillant & Sauvage | 1875 | Synonym |
| Tetraodon lagocephalus | Linnaeus | 1758 | Synonym |
| Tetrodon lagocephalus | Linnaeus | 1758 | Synonym |
| Tetrodon pennantii | Yarrell | 1836 | Synonym |
| Tetrodon stellatus | Donovan | 1804 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 682 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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