Fresh water puffer fish
📖 Overview
Fresh water puffer fish (Tetraodon mbu) is a ray-finned fish of the family Tetraodontidae. It inhabits freshwater waters in benthic environments. This species can reach a maximum total length of 67 cm. With a trophic level of 3.6, it is a mid-level predator. It is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Venomous.
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
Physical description for Fresh water puffer fish is currently being compiled.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Fresh water puffer fish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
It feeds on smaller fish, mollusks, crustaceans, snails, worms, and crayfish. Species kept in captivity require a varied diet consisting of shelled foods to help ensure good health and to prevent tooth overgrowth.
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Freshwater; brackish; demersal. Tropical; 24°C - 26°C distributed in Lake Tanganyika and the Congo basin.
🌿 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
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tetrodon mbu | Boulenger | 1899 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 97 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
No observations yet - be the first to log one!
View all observations for Fresh water puffer fish ↗Spotted incorrect or outdated data? Submit a correction and our editorial team will review it. Approved edits go live within 48 hours.
Found a factual error, broken data, or inappropriate content? Let us know and we will investigate promptly.