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this video is aimed at giving you a general overview
but you can check the video description for added information
Porcupinefish
are fish belonging to the family
Diodontidae (order Tetraodontiformes).
and are commonly referred to as blowfish
and, sometimes,
balloonfish and globefish.
Not to be confused,
the Porcupinefish are also called pufferfish
because they are morphologically similar
to the closely related
Tetraodontidae,
which are more commonly given the name "pufferfish".
Porcupinefish are medium to large-sized fish
and gets its name from the numerous long spines
located all over the head and body.
They are found in shallow temperate and tropical seas.
A few species are found much further out from shore,
wherein
large schools of thousands of individuals can occur.
Adult Porcupinefish generally linger inshore
around areas that offer shelter,
such as caves,
shipwrecks,
reefs,
and ledges.
They are often seen residing
in holes and crevices within the reef complex.
The Juvenile Porcupinefish
seen here
are pelagic
meaning...
being neither close to the bottom
nor near the shore
until reaching 8 inches
(approximately 20cm) in length,
after which they become benthic
meaning...
they will go to the lowest level of the ocean
Porcupinefish are generally slow
but the distinctive natural defenses
help compensate for its slow movements.
The fish moves by combining
pectoral,
dorsal,
anal,
and caudal fin motions,
which makes it highly maneuverable,
but very slow.
The tail fin is mainly used as a rudder,
but it can be used for a sudden evasive burst of speed.
The Porcupinefish's excellent eyesight,
combined with this speed burst,
is the first and most important defense against predators.
A second defense mechanism is provided by the sharp spines,
which radiate outwards when the fish is inflated.
The Porcupinefish
will fill its extremely elastic stomach with water
(or air when outside the water)
thereby becoming rounder.
The inflation also increases the fish size
(almost double vertically)
reducing the range of potential predators
to those with much bigger mouths.
A hungry predator
will find itself facing an unpalatable,
pointy ball
rather than a slow, easy meal.
Adults are sometimes preyed upon by sharks and killer whales
Juveniles are also preyed on by tuna and dolphins.
Some species are poisonous,
having tetrodotoxin in their internal organs,
such as the ovaries and liver.
This neurotoxin is more potent than cyanide
(at least 1200 times)
and the poison is produced by several types of bacteria
obtained from the fish's diet.
They have few predators
as a result of the two earlier mentioned defenses
and some species being poisonous.
The Porcupinefish are eaten as food fish
in Cebu,
the Philippines (where they are called tagotongan)
and other regions around the world
to include Jamaica
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