Japanese pufferfish
📖 Overview
Adults are found in inlet waters, occasionally entering brackish waters. Fingerlings are often seen in brackish river mouths . Move offshore with growth. Breed in the sea from March to May; attach eggs to rocks in shingly areas at depths of around 20 m. Liver and ovaries extremely toxic, intestines slightly toxic; flesh, skin and testes not poisonous. Juveniles resemble Takifugu niphobles . A prized food fish in Japan. Said to be commercially cultured in Japan at present. Used in Chinese medicine . One of the first vertebrates whose genome has been sequenced completely, 31,059 genes coding for 33,609 proteins .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16 - 19; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 13 - 16; Vertebrae: 21 - 22. Body covered with prickles; presence of a large round black blotch edged with a white line on side just behind pectoral fin .: fusiform / normal.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Japanese pufferfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; freshwater; brackish; demersal; non-migratory. Temperate; 46°N - 21°N, 119°E - 142°E Northwest Pacific: western part of the Sea of Japan and the East China and Yellow seas northward to Muroran, Hokkaido, Japan.
🌿 Ecology
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
⚠️ Venom Profile
- immediate intense pain
- swelling
- erythema
- occasional nausea and weakness
Analgesia; wound care; tetanus prophylaxis; severe cases may require monitoring for systemic effects.
References: Compiled from Bhide (2018), Halstead et al. (1988) and family-specific envenomation literature
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 5 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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