Long-spine porcupinefish, Diodon holocanthus

Long-spine porcupinefish
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Tetraodontiformes Family: Diodontidae Genus: Diodon Species: D. holocanthus
Binomial name
Diodon holocanthus Linnaeus, 1758

The long-spine porcupinefish is also known as the spiny balloonfish.

Range

The Long-spine porcupinefish is circumtropical in distribution, being found in the tropical zones of major seas and oceans:

* In the Atlantic it is found from Florida and the Bahamas to Brazil and in the Eastern Atlantic from 30°N to 23°S, as well as around South Africa.
* In the western Indian Ocean from the southern Red Sea to Madagascar, Reunion and Mauritius.
* In the Pacific Ocean from southern Japan to Lord Howe Island, and east to the Hawaiian and Easter islands. Also from southern California to Colombia and the Galapagos Islands.[1]

Description

Pale in colour with large black blotches and smaller black spots, these spots becoming fewer in number with age. Has many long, two-rooted depressible spines. Adults may reach 50cm in length.[2]

Diet

Feeds on mollusks (molluscs), sea urchins, hermit crabs, snails, and crabs during its active phase at night.[1]

Habitat

Found over the muddy sea bottom, or in lagoons or seaward reefs.

Spawning

Spawns at the surface at dawn or at dusk in pairs or in groups of males with a single female; the juveniles remain pelagic until they are at least 7cm long.[2] Young and sub-adult fish sometimes occur in groups.

Uses

It is used in Chinese medicine, and is captured at the surface with a hand net. It is poisonous if not prepared correctly.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "diodon holocanthus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. 6 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
2. ^ ^{a b} Lieske, E. and Myers, R.F. (2004) Coral reef guide; Red Sea London, HarperCollins ISBN 0-00-715986-2