Long-spine porcupinefish
| Long-spine porcupinefish | |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Tetraodontiformes |
| Family: | Diodontidae |
| Genus: | Diodon |
| Species: | D. holocanthus |
| Binomial name | |
| Diodon holocanthus Linnaeus, 1758 |
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| Distribution of the Long-Spine Porcupinefish | |
The long-spine porcupinefish is also known as the spiny balloonfish.
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[edit] Range
The Long-spine porcupinefish is circumtropical in distribution, being found in the tropical zones of major seas and oceans:
- In the Atlantic it is found from Florida and the Bahamas to Brazil and in the Eastern Atlantic from 30°N to 23°S, as well as around South Africa.
- In the western Indian Ocean from the southern Red Sea to Madagascar, Réunion and Mauritius.
- In the Pacific Ocean from southern Japan to Lord Howe Island, and east to the Hawaiian and Easter islands. Also from southern California to Colombia and the Galapagos Islands.[1]
[edit] Description
Pale in colour with large black blotches and smaller black spots, these spots becoming fewer in number with age. Has many long, two-rooted depressible spines. Adults may reach 50 cm (20 in) in length.[2]
[edit] Diet
Feeds on mollusks (molluscs), sea urchins, hermit crabs, snails, and crabs during its active phase at night.[1]
[edit] Habitat
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Found over the muddy sea bottom, or in lagoons or seaward and reefs around the world.
[edit] Spawning
Spawns at the surface at dawn or at dusk in pairs or in groups of males with a single female; the juveniles remain pelagic until they are at least 7 cm (3 in) long.[2] Young and sub-adult fish sometimes occur in groups.
[edit] Uses
It is used in Chinese medicine, and is captured at the surface with a hand net. It is poisonous if not prepared correctly.
[edit] References
- ^ a b Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2007). "diodon holocanthus" in FishBase. 6 2007 version.
- ^ a b Lieske, E. and Myers, R.F. (2004) Coral reef guide; Red Sea London, HarperCollins ISBN 0-00-715986-2
