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Most pufferfish contain a toxic substance that makes them foul tasting and potentially deadly
to other fish.
PHOTOGRAPH BY OCEAN, CORBIS

ANIMALS FISH

Pufferfish
Pufferfish can inflate into a ball shape to evade predators. Also known as
blowfish, these clumsy swimmers fill their elastic stomachs with huge
amounts of water (and sometimes air) and blow themselves up to several
times their normal size.

C O M M O N N A M E : Pufferfish

S C I E N T I F I C N A M E : Tetraodontidae

T Y P E : Fish

D I E T : Carnivore

G R O U P N A M E : School

S I Z E : Up to 3 feet

Some pufferfish species also have spines on their skin to ward off
predators. Even if a predator gobbles up a puffer before it inflates, it
won't enjoy the snack. Most pufferfish contain a toxic substance that
makes them foul tasting and potentially deadly to other fish. The toxin
is deadly to humans. There is enough poison in one pufferfish to kill 30
adult humans, and there is no known antidote.

Check out where pufferfish live.

N AT I O N A L G E O G R A P H I C M A P S

In Japan, they are called fugu and are a very expensive, delicious treat.
They are prepared only by trained, licensed fugu chefs. Most puffers
are found in tropical and subtropical ocean waters, but some species
live in brackish and even fresh water. Some species of pufferfish are
considered vulnerable due to pollution, habitat loss, and overfishing,
but most populations are considered stable.

6:23

A PUFFED UP … PORCUPINE
In this episode of What Sam Sees, Sam meets a fish that looks like a balloon with a spiky
attitude. Swim with Sam in the National Aquarium’s Atlantic Coral Reef in Baltimore, Maryland,
to learn more about one of the biggest puffer fish.

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