Narrow-lined Puffer is a bottom-dwelling ocean fish in the Tetraodontidae family.
It lives in muddy areas, typically in shallow coastal slopes up to 20 meters deep and shallow estuaries.
This fish can also be found in estuaries, protected reef flats, and lagoons as deep as 17 meters.
Narrow-lined puffer is common in seagrass beds and sandy spots. Young ones are often seen near mangroves.
Narrow-lined puffers swim close to the ocean floor but are not safe for coral reefs.
Narrow-lined Puffer Interesting Facts
- Narrow-lined puffers grow up to 12.2 inches (31.0 centimeters) long and have distinctive dark stripes on their bodies.
- These fish prefer shallow waters, inhabiting depths of 2 to 20 meters in tropical regions like the Western Pacific.
- Found in saltwater and slightly brackish environments, they commonly reside near coral reefs but are not considered safe for them.
- They reproduce by laying eggs, a trait known as being oviparous.
Narrow-lined Puffer Habitat
Narrow-lined puffer is found in the Western Pacific region, specifically near Borneo, the Philippines, northwest Australia, Samoa, the Ryukyu Islands, New South Wales (Australia), and Tonga.
It lives in both saltwater and slightly brackish water environments and is commonly found near coral reefs.
Narrow-lined puffer prefers depths of 2 to 20 meters (about 6 to 66 feet) in tropical waters with temperatures ranging from 30°N to 31°S and longitudes between 99°E to 175°W.
| Water Temperature: | Unknown |
| Water pH: | Unknown |
| Water Hardness: | Unknown |
Narrow-lined Puffer Physical Characteristics
Size: 12.2 inches (31.0 centimeters)
Narrow-lined puffer grows up to 12.2 inches (31.0 centimeters) long.
It has no dorsal spines but has 9 to 11 soft rays on the dorsal fin and 9 to 10 soft rays on the anal fin. Its body is covered with small, sharp points called prickles.
This fish has dark stripes running along its body, but sometimes they can be hard to see.
Its color ranges from brownish or greenish-grey on the top side to white or pale yellow underneath.
The snout is short, making up about half of the head length. The space between the eyes is wide compared to its head size, and its tail fin is rounded.
Narrow-lined Puffer Reproduction
Narrow-lined puffer reproduces by laying eggs, which is called oviparous.
Narrow-lined Puffer Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Tetraodontiformes |
| Family: | Tetraodontidae |
| Genus: | Arothron |
| Scientific Name: | Arothron manilensis |
| Also Known As: | Narrow-lined Puffer |
| Conservation Status: | Least Concern |