New 🐟 Mercury Safety Guide & Omega-3 Rankings Updated for 2026. View Omega-3 Rankings →

🌊 Marine Least Concern 🍽️ Edible 🌡️ Tropical

Speckled puffer

Sphoeroides yergeri Shipp, 1972
Max Length
-
Max Weight
-
Lifespan
-
Trophic Level
3.4
Depth
-
Climate
Tropical
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
25.00/100
Typical Length
-
Depth Zone
demersal

📖 Overview

Speckled puffer (Sphoeroides yergeri) is a ray-finned fish of the family Tetraodontidae. It inhabits marine (saltwater) waters in benthic environments. With a trophic level of 3.4, it is a low-level carnivore, feeding on invertebrates and small organisms. It is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Commercially fished and consumed as food.

Scientific Name
Sphoeroides yergeri
Authority
Shipp, 1972
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Tropical
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
IUCN Status
LC
Trophic Level
3.4
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
25.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Tiny black flecks on ventral surface.: short and / or deep.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Speckled puffer is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Speckled puffer is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Speckled puffer is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; demersal; depth range ? - 31 m . Tropical

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine ⬇️ Benthic
Trophic Level
3.4±0.5

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.02512 × L2.88 (TL)

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2015

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
High
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
25.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.4
Predator
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
Climate Zone
Tropical
Described By
Shipp, 1972

🍽️ Edibility & Flavour

"Speckled puffer is an edible species."

✗ Not for Raw
✓ Fresh Indicators
  • 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
✗ Avoid If
  • Cloudy or sunken eyes
  • Strong fishy or ammonia odour
  • Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
  • Discoloured or dry flesh
Best Cooking Methods
Baking Grilling Pan-frying

Nutrition

Detailed nutritional data for Speckled puffer is currently being compiled from USDA FoodData Central.

🔬 Mercury Safety

Mercury data for Speckled puffer has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.

🌿 Sustainability

Best Choice
Healthy stocks, low impact
Good Alternative
Well-managed, minor concerns
Use Caution
Check sourcing and season
Avoid
Overfished or high impact

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 1 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
0 Observations logged on Aquareap

No observations yet - be the first to log one!

View all observations for Speckled puffer ↗
Suggest an Edit

Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.

Link to a scientific paper, FishBase, or other authoritative source
Report an Issue

Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.