Southern puffer
📖 Overview
Inhabits bays, estuaries and protected coastal waters. Feeds primarily on shellfish, also on some finfish .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 7. Upper side brown with large dark grey to black spots and light (pale blue or green in fresh specimens) irregular-shaped reticulations. Lower side with an irregular row of dusky to black rounded spots. The axil spot the most intense in the series. Sexually mature, ripe males sometimes covered with brilliant red or orange spots of about 1 mm in diameter (white in preserved specimen). No lappets on head or body (Ref 53033).: short and / or deep.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Southern puffer is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
Diet information for Southern puffer is currently being compiled.
🥚 Reproduction
Oviparous .
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 11 m . Subtropical; 31°N - 9°N, 98°W - 59°W South America to Brazil uncertain.
🌿 Ecology
shellfish, also on some finfish (Ref
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sphaeroides nephelus | Goode & Bean | 1882 | Synonym |
| Spheroides harperi | Nichols | 1914 | Synonym |
| Sphoeroides harperi | Nichols | 1914 | Synonym |
| Sphoeroides nefelus | Goode & Bean | 1882 | Synonym |
| Tetraodon nephelus | Goode & Bean | 1882 | Synonym |
| Tetrodon nephelus | Goode & Bean | 1882 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 49 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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