Masked puffer

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Masked puffer
Arothron diadematus
File:Masked puffer arothron diadematus.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Phylum:
Class:
Order:
Family:
Genus:
Species:
A. diadematus
Binomial name
Arothron diadematus
(Rüppell, 1829)

Lua error in Module:Taxonbar/candidate at line 22: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).

The masked puffer (Arothron diadematus) is a pufferfish in the family Tetraodontidae.

Distribution

Red Sea only.

Description

Maximum length 30 cm, olive-green/grey with a black mask over the eyes and pectoral fins, mouth has a black border.[1] Usually solitary but schools during mating period. Some authors believe this to be a variation of the species Arothron nigropunctatus.[2]

Habitat

Associated with coral reefs, from surface to 20m depth.[1] The masked puffer will land in a low grotto and produce a very viscous sperm out of its lower anal cavity. It uses own sperm as a base habitat; over the course of the next week the masked puffer will borrow and create a home with the genital sperm. The sperm produces a very effective disguise and mask of scent, reducing its predators. When the sperm starts to become a mold the masked puffer will migrate to a different grotto and repeat the cycle.

Gallery

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Siliotti, A. (2002) fishes of the red sea Verona, Geodia ISBN 88-87177-42-2
  2. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2007). "Arothron diadematus" in FishBase. 5 2007 version.