denise
08-12-2008, 04:49 PM
Porcupinefish are members of the fish family Diodontidae, and are also commonly called blowfish. They are found in shallow temperate and tropical seas worldwide.They are often confused with their close relatives the pufferfish. Porcupinefish have heavy spines (hence the name porcupine) on their bodies.
Porcupinefish have an inflatable bodies, covered with immovable spines, that are capable of inflating with water (or air) when threatened. This amazing ability is possible due to an out pocket of the gut (called the diverticulum) that may be filled with water (or even, but not ideally air) and kept in their via a specialized valve. This increase in size (almost double) reduces their range of potential predators to those with much bigger mouths. The stretched abdominal muscles expel the ingested water when the threat has passed.
Another defense mechanism is provided by their sharp spines, which point outwards when the fish is inflated.
There are several common porcupinefish in Florida, all are regularly spotted on coral reefs. They hunt and feed by day, using their powerful beak-like jaws to crush and eat small fish, barnacles, snails, crabs, oysters, barnacles and clams. They are voracious predators and are often been seen to swallow hermit crabs whole, with the shell and all!
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/Balloonfish1.jpg
Balloonfish, Diodon holocanthus, is the largest member of the porcupine family, with beautifully colored eyes.
Photo by Bob Rossell
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/balloonfish123.jpg
Balloonfish, West Palm Beach
The similar looking balloonfish and porcupinefish can be distinguished by the following: porcupinefish have spots all over their body, including their fins; balloonfish do not have spots on their fins. Balloonfish also have long spines on their head.
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/Porcupinfish.jpg
Porcupinefish, Diodon hystrix, West Palm Beach
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/Porcupinefish2.jpg
Porcupinefish, Lantana Beach
Porcupinefish usually hide in or near dark spots on the reef. They can pale or darken their body to camouflage themselves.
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/pairofporcupinefish.jpg
Pair of Porcupinefish peering out from their crevice.
http://www.dayo.com/fishid/gibbypuffer_1.JPG
Striped burrfish, Chilomycterus schoepfi, Blue Heron Bridge
Photo by Michael Gibby
Porcupinefish have an inflatable bodies, covered with immovable spines, that are capable of inflating with water (or air) when threatened. This amazing ability is possible due to an out pocket of the gut (called the diverticulum) that may be filled with water (or even, but not ideally air) and kept in their via a specialized valve. This increase in size (almost double) reduces their range of potential predators to those with much bigger mouths. The stretched abdominal muscles expel the ingested water when the threat has passed.
Another defense mechanism is provided by their sharp spines, which point outwards when the fish is inflated.
There are several common porcupinefish in Florida, all are regularly spotted on coral reefs. They hunt and feed by day, using their powerful beak-like jaws to crush and eat small fish, barnacles, snails, crabs, oysters, barnacles and clams. They are voracious predators and are often been seen to swallow hermit crabs whole, with the shell and all!
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/Balloonfish1.jpg
Balloonfish, Diodon holocanthus, is the largest member of the porcupine family, with beautifully colored eyes.
Photo by Bob Rossell
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/balloonfish123.jpg
Balloonfish, West Palm Beach
The similar looking balloonfish and porcupinefish can be distinguished by the following: porcupinefish have spots all over their body, including their fins; balloonfish do not have spots on their fins. Balloonfish also have long spines on their head.
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/Porcupinfish.jpg
Porcupinefish, Diodon hystrix, West Palm Beach
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/Porcupinefish2.jpg
Porcupinefish, Lantana Beach
Porcupinefish usually hide in or near dark spots on the reef. They can pale or darken their body to camouflage themselves.
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/pairofporcupinefish.jpg
Pair of Porcupinefish peering out from their crevice.
http://www.dayo.com/fishid/gibbypuffer_1.JPG
Striped burrfish, Chilomycterus schoepfi, Blue Heron Bridge
Photo by Michael Gibby