White-spotted Puffer perched over Dome coral

White-spotted Puffer perched over Dome coral

White-spotted Puffer resting atop a bed of Dome coral set amongst an array of coral varieties branching out from the reef. White-spotted puffers often rest on corals, rubble or sand during the day. They generally are less active during the daylight hours, hunting mostly at night, swimming slowly over the seabed or along the reef edge. However, they can make up for their slow motion movement with unexpected bursts of speed. If still endangered, they have a multitude of natural defenses including spines all over their bodies and the ability to intake water and double their size, hence the common name Puffer.

Individually crafted - we take pride in our unique collection of underwater photography. Our high quality photo prints featuring pictures of tropical fish are printed individually to order.

White-spotted Puffer Facts
Other common names: Stars-and-stripes Puffer
Scientific name: Arothron hispidus
Family: Tetraodontidae (Puffers)
Max. size: 50 cm
Depth: 1 - 50 metres
Diet: Crown of thorns sea star, fleshy or coralline algae, mollusks, tunicates, sponges, corals, zoanthid anemones, crabs, tube worms, echinoderms
Habitat: Estuaries, rocky reefs, sandy stretches between reefs, outer reef slopes, coastal bays
Distribution: Indo-Pacific : Red Sea and East Africa to Panama, north to southern Japan and the Hawaiian Islands, south to Lord Howe and Rapa islands. Eastern Pacific: Baja California and the Gulf of California to Panama.
Conservation: Not evaluated