Within nature exist a wide variety of strange-looking creatures. With so many different species, each flaunting vibrant differences, it’s always interesting to stumble across an animal you’ve never seen before. Thanks to social media, you can often see posts of these species. One such example is the Congo pufferfish, which was posted on Instagram by @the_puffer_brother. Read here to learn more about this bright red pufferfish and its tomato-like appearance!
©Dan Olsen/Shutterstock.com
Congo Pufferfish
The Congo pufferfish went viral in the post above for its bright red and pouty appearance. Like its name suggests, this species of pufferfish is native to freshwater systems of central Africa, specifically to the Congo River Basin in Central Africa. In these freshwater bodies, they inhabit waters with a loose, sandy, or rocky bottom, which helps these pufferfish hunt! Congo pufferfish are ambush predators, meaning that they wait in secret for their prey. By burying themselves in the loose sand, they can remain hidden before striking at prey passing by. As carnivores, their prey includes small fish, insects, and crustaceans. With a healthy diet, they can grow to be five to six inches long.
So, what gives them their characteristic bright red color? Well, the answer is a bit complicated. The Congo pufferfish can change and adjust its colors. Some of these colors include grey, green, brown, black, and rarer colors such as orange and red. They change colors for reasons such as communication and camouflage. Shifting their colors helps the pufferfish stay safe from predators and aids them in their hunts as well. Other environmental factors, such as water conditions and quality, also play a role. The pufferfish in the video above likely has a mix of genetic variation and color shifting ability that gives it its bright red color. So, while you may not see a Congo pufferfish like this in the wild very often, at least its beautiful coloring can be enjoyed on social media.
