Masked puffer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Masked Puffer

Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Tetraodontiformes
Family: Tetraodontidae
Genus: Arothron
Species: A. diadematus
Binomial name
Arothron diadematus
(Rüppell, 1829)

Contents

[edit] Description

Maximum length 30cm, 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]

[edit] Habitat

Associated with coral reefs, from surface to 20m depth.[1]

[edit] Distribution

Red Sea only

Masked puffer face detail

Masked puffer at night, resting (sleeping?) on a coral outcrop

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Siliotti, A. (2002) fishes of the red sea Verona, Geodia ISBN 88-87177-42-2
  2. ^ "Arothron diadematus". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. 5 2007 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2007.
Languages