Saltwaterfish. Porcupinefishes. Inhabits shallow reefs and grassy bottoms, where it searches for invertebrates. Bad swimmer, prefers to hide. Body covered with spines which lay normally flat but when alarmed it inflates its body, and the spines become erect.

- Porcupinefish Diodon hystrix

Size: 15 to 25 cm, max 35 cm.
Colour: Pale brown covered with black spots. When exited it can pale or darken, showing dusky bars. Shape: Odly shaped fish, more like a balloon, especially when they are inflated with water. Clumsy swimmer at best. Body covered with short spines, always erect and the dorsal ones are the most prominent.

Inhabits coral reefs. Inhabits shallow reefs and grassy bottoms. Bad swimmer, prefers to hide. Is also called: Bridled Burrfish, Spiny Box Puffer or Striped Burr Fish.

BES-eilanden: St. Eustatius.

[Marion Haarsma, feb. 2016]

- DeLoach, N., & Humann, P. (2002). Reef Fish Identification - Florida Caribbean Bahamas - 3th Edition. New World Publications, Inc.

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