10 Essential Facts About Pufferfish

Pufferfish are among the most interesting of all the fish in our oceans. One of the most incredible facts about pufferfish is that while their meat can be deadly, many people still choose to eat them. Here, we’ll find out just what makes pufferfish so fascinating. Read on to learn ten incredible pufferfish facts!

1. Pufferfish Don’t Live in the Deep Ocean

Pufferfish is the common name given to the nearly 200 species of puffers in the Tetraodontidae family. Members of this family occur primarily in warm, tropical waters close to the equator. They’re found in the shallow coastal waters of Central America, northern South America, Africa, the Indian subcontinent, Southeast Asia, Indonesia, and northern Australia. They occasionally live further north or south in temperate waters but not in cold, polar waters.

2. Pufferfish Eat Hard Things

Each species of puffer has a slightly different diet. One incredible pufferfish fact is that pufferfish may eat everything from algae to mollusks. Puffers are omnivorous, which means they eat both meat and vegetable materials. They have beak-like mouths and teeth, which they use to consume mussels, clams, and other mollusks. They use their bony teeth to crush apart prey.

3. Pufferfish are Deadly

Puffers are slow, awkward-looking fish that, at first glance, seem like perfect targets for predatory fish. But if you’re thinking about eating a puffer, you better think twice. The pufferfish’s most famous line of defense is their ability to ‘puff up’. To do this, they actually fill their bellies with water. That way, if something tries to eat them, it runs the risk of choking to death. And that’s not even half of the pufferfish’s self-defense capabilities.

Pufferfish are also incredibly poisonous. Almost all species of puffer contain tetrodotoxin, a potent neurotoxin. This toxin — found in their skin, ovaries, livers, and intestines — keeps them safe from most predators, including humans. However, certain fish, like sharks and lizardfish, can safely eat pufferfish. Humans also enjoy the occasionally prepared puffer, known as fugu in Japan. However, only highly trained chefs know how to prepare the meat safely.

4. Pufferfish Larvae are Cannibals

Another fact about these unique creatures is that pufferfish larvae sometimes partake in cannibalism. Once they develop their teeth they sometimes attack other members of the brood. Although they are too small to fully consume them, they can bite chunks out of them, eventually causing their death.

5. Male Pufferfish Make Art to Attract Females

Male white-spotted pufferfish, which live off the coast of Japan, employ a very curious behavior to attract mates. They begin by selecting a suitable place in the sand. Then, propelling their bodies through the sand in purposeful, planned directions, they create intricate, geometric patterns. These nests resemble crop circles or Buddhist mandala paintings. But, they’re created by no other than the tiny white-spotted pufferfish.

6. Most Pufferfish are Small

In general, pufferfish tend towards the small side. Most measure less than 15 inches long, with a few reaching up to 26 inches long. The smallest puffer is the Malabar pufferfish, which reaches only 1.5 inches long in adulthood. These fish live in the waters of southwestern India. The largest puffer in the world is the Mbu pufferfish, also known as the giant pufferfish, which can grow up to 26 inches long. These puffers live in only a few of the rivers in Africa.

7. Pufferfish Aren’t Strong Swimmers

You might be surprised to learn that pufferfish are actually not very good swimmers. Pufferfish are slow and clumsy when swimming which means that they lack the ability to outswim predators. However, they more than make up for this with their deadly poison!

8. Pufferfish Can Close Their Eyes

Another fascinating fact about pufferfish is that they can actually close their eyes — even though they don’t have eyelids. This incredible phenomenon occurs because they can retract their eyes into their skull by up to 70%, allowing them to seal the skin surrounding their eyes shut.

9. Dolphins May Use Pufferfish to ‘Get High’

Another incredible pufferfish fact has to do with another puffer line of defense. When threatened, puffers also emit chemical deterrents into the water. These foul-smelling liquids are meant to scare predators off. But, for some dolphins, the effect seems to be the opposite. Dolphins have been observed seemingly purposely inhaling these liquids. Immediately after inhalation, they seem to act a little funky, leading some to believe that the dolphins are actually ”getting high” off pufferfish supply. However, this behavior is not fully understood and remains a topic of scientific investigation.

10. Some Pufferfish Live in Freshwater

That’s right: not all pufferfish live in salt water. In fact, many species make their homes in freshwater rivers. Among them is the Mbu pufferfish, also known as the giant freshwater pufferfish. These fish live in the Congo and Malagarasi Rivers of Africa, as well as in Lake Tanganyika. Another freshwater species of puffer, the Fahaka pufferfish, actually lives in the Nile River. Freshwater pufferfish make popular additions to freshwater fish tanks. Some popular species are dwarf pea puffers, imitator puffers, redeye puffers, crested puffers, fang’s puffers, and emerald puffers.