Giant Porcupinefish

Giant Porcupinefish

Diodon hystric
Giant Porcupinefish

Family, Genus, Class & Etymology

Family    Diodontidae
Description    Porcupinefishes (burrfishes)
Environment    Marine
Etymology    Greek, di = two + Greek, odous = tooth, teeth.
Genus    7
No. of Species    8
Order    Tetraodontiformes
Class    Actinopterygii
Reproductive Guild    Nonguarders
Distribution    Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans. Well-developed sharp spines covering body. Body inflatable, and in some species the spines erect only when the body is inflated. Jaws with 2 fused teeth (parrotlike). Opposite premaxillaries and dentaries entirely united at midline. Adults found inshore; the young pelagic. Feed primarily on hard-shelled invertebrates crushed by the beak. Eggs are pelagic.