Pufferfish
Why do divers love seeing these fish? Because it looks like they are interested in us as much as we are in them. This animal is in the Tetraodontidae family. Its name comes from the Latin words tetra (four) and odous (tooth). The name comes from the fact that its four beaks look like teeth. Some pieces of jawbone were put together and then cut into four different pieces. These “teeth” aren’t really teeth.
In times of trouble, pufferfish are one of the most dangerous fish. They are soft, move slowly, and look beautiful. Dogs and cats get sick when they eat some types of puffers, and some are even more dangerous for people. In the water, if you see a pufferfish, stay away from it!
What makes up
They have round bodies that can blow up like a bubble when they feel threatened. Tetraodontidae is the formal name for them. Bellies that can quickly take in either air or water make the fish bigger as a defense. This is what makes them puffy. Other fish can’t see the pufferfish because it can puff up. It’s a tough meal now.
One kind of pufferfish is the miniature pufferfish. There is also the porcupine pufferfish, which is bigger and more showy. They often stand out against coral reefs because they look so different, which makes any dive more interesting.
What Land Is Used For
They can live in lakes, warm subtropical seas, and salty water, among other places. Some species live in rivers, bays, and lakes. Some people like sand and coral islands on the ocean floor. They can live in a lot of different places, so you can see them under the water all over the world.
There are many coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific region. The Great Barrier Reef and the Red Sea are two examples. Divers who go there might see the well-known clown pufferfish and the dog-faced pufferfish. There are many types of pufferfish that live in oceans all over the world. The Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean are home to many types of fish.
What to Do
Pufferfish are cool to watch because they do cool things. Fish like these are known to be very interesting and to grow very quickly. Some divers may notice that they are slowly getting closer, as if they want to check out the people who are coming to their world beneath.
The pufferfish can change more than just how they feel. They can also change their bodies’ colors. This is similar to how chameleons can change their skin color to blend in with their surroundings. They can quickly change how they look to hide from possible enemies if they don’t want to get bigger.
In some species, pufferfish can also dig holes very well. Divers who like to look at soft bottoms may see pufferfish markings as they build homes and hiding spots. It’s more fun to scuba dive with these cool animals because they can do these hard things.
They are fish, but you would think they could swim well, but they can’t. Scientists think that pufferfish hide and grow as important ways to stay safe since tetrodotoxin doesn’t hurt sharks.
Make plans for food
To keep their teeth healthy, they like to eat hard things like crabs, coral, and other things that are crunchy.
How long did they live?
Most pufferfish in the wild are thought to live between 5 and 10 years, but some species may live longer. How long they live depends on their surroundings, the number of food sources, and the number of people that are around to hurt them. Pupfish can live longer if they are kept in a controlled environment, like a tank, and get the right care. The fact that these interesting sea creatures have lived for a long time shows how important it is for their health that their natural and man-made surroundings work together.
Strengths that are bad
Some kinds of pufferfish have a poison called tetrodotoxin that can kill you. The fish has this strong poison on its skin, in its tissues, and especially in its liver. It can kill someone if they eat it. Because it is so strong, tetrodotoxin is a way for pufferfish to keep enemies away.
Some countries have strict rules about how to cook and eat pufferfish because it is very dangerous to poison. In Japan, fugu (a food made from pufferfish) is a treat, and this is especially true. Because it is so strong, the toxin serves as a reminder of how fragile the balance is in the ocean and stresses the need to be careful while going diving.
