Puffer Fish Guide
Puffer Fish is the second most poisonous vertebrate after Golden Poison Frog. There are around 29 species of this fish which are most commonly found in Southeast Asia (25 species), Central Africa (3 species) and South America (1 species).
This fish has got different names like Balloon fish, Blow fish, Bubble fish, Globe fish etc…
The Puffer Fish is similar to the porcupine fish which large external spines which are generally invisible and visible only when the fish is puffed up.
This fish has a very slow movement and thus it is more vulnerable to get caught from the predators. They have a tail fin which is generally used for controlled movement and when any predators attacks them this fins can be used by them to generate a very high speed to escape from the situation.
They have very good eye sight. These are important for them for defending against the predators.
Their back up defense mechanism is the puffing of water or air. The elastic body will help them to take as much of water or air and make themselves larger and spherical in shape. They will blow it when any predators attacks, causing disturbance and will try to escape.
This fish can also change colors of the body differently according to the environment which can be compared to chameleon.
This fish is very toxic as said before. It has highly toxic neurotoxin which will affect the nervous system. This poison is found mostly in the liver and ovaries of the fish and also a small part in the skin and intestine.
When any predators or humans swallow the fish, their stomach will be filled with tetrodotoxin poison. It causes sensation like tingling in the mouth followed by dizziness which will mostly breaks the nervous system and will lead to death.
Each year, many people die consuming the Puffer Fish which has not been prepared by a trained chef.
Puffer Fish Information
Pufferfish Printout- EnchantedLearning.comhttp://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/fish/printouts/Pufferfish.shtml
Pufferfish - Information about Keeping Puffer Fish in Aquariums.
http://www.aquariumfish.net/catalog_pages/brackish_water/puffer_figure_eight.htm
Pufferfish - AC Tropical Fish
http://www.aquaticcommunity.com/predatory/pufferfish.php
Pufferfish | Free Music, Tour Dates, Photos, Videos
http://www.myspace.com/thepufferfish
Pufferfish Band Website
http://eatmymusic.com/
Puffer Fish Care Information And Pictures
http://e0.aqua-fish.net/show.php?h=pufferfish
Pufferfish
http://projects.edtech.sandi.net/lvelem/fishdefense/fishdef.puffer.html
Green Spotted Puffer, Pufferfish (Tetraodon nigroviridis), with picture ...
http://www.thetropicaltank.co.uk/Fishindx/puf-nigr.htm
The Puffer Forum • The Puffer Fish Care Community
http://www.thepufferforum.com/
Dragon Labs » Pufferfish » The Article
http://labs.dragoninteractive.com/pufferfish_article.php
Wilderness: Pufferfish Poisoning
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/wilderness_pufferfish_poisoning/article_em.htm
Puffer Fish Researched And Compiled by Savio DSilva