Map Puffer is also called Map Pufferfish, Scribbled Pufferfish, or Kesho-Fugu.
It lives at the bottom of the ocean in warm waters from the Indian Ocean to the western Pacific Ocean.
This fish has a strong poison called tetrodotoxin that it uses to protect itself from predators.
Even though it’s very poisonous, people still keep map puffers in aquariums and sometimes eat them.
Map puffer is found near deep drop-offs in clear lagoons and sheltered reefs.
It likes to stay close to hiding places and feed on algae, sponges, and other small sea creatures.
Although this fish is kept in aquariums, it is not safe for coral reefs.
Map Puffer Interesting Facts
- Map puffer contains a strong poison, tetrodotoxin, to protect itself from predators.
- Found in the Indo-Pacific region, it prefers warm tropical waters near reefs and lagoons.
- This fish can grow up to 25.6 inches (65.0 centimeters) long and has a unique texture due to small prickles on its body.
- Reproduction occurs through egg-laying or oviparous reproduction.
Map Puffer Habitat
Map puffer is found in the Indo-Pacific region. Its range stretches from East Africa, including South Africa’s Natal coast, all the way to Samoa.
This fish also reaches north up to Japan’s Ryukyus and Western Sea, and south down to New Caledonia and Queensland, Australia.
Map puffer lives in marine environments near reefs at depths of 4 to 30 meters (13 to 98 feet).
It prefers warm, tropical waters between 35°N to 28°S latitudes.
| Water Temperature: | Unknown |
| Water pH: | Unknown |
| Water Hardness: | Unknown |
Map Puffer Physical Characteristics
Size: 25.6 inches (65.0 centimeters)
Map puffer grows up to 25.6 inches (65.0 centimeters) long.
It has no dorsal spines, but it does have 11 to 12 soft rays on its dorsal side and 10 to 11 soft rays near its rear end.
Its body is covered in small prickles, which give it a unique texture.
This fish has beautiful colors on its body, with a black area around its bottom and black lines below its side fins.
Map puffer also has a large dark blotch on its belly. Its head and body are covered in tiny spine-like structures, except near the mouth, base of fins, and tail area.
The snout of this fish is short, making up about one-seventh of its body length.
Its tail fin is also short and rounded, measuring between 4.2 to 5.1 times shorter than the length of the entire fish.
Map Puffer Reproduction
Map puffer reproduces by laying eggs, which is called oviparous reproduction.
Map Puffer Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Tetraodontiformes |
| Family: | Tetraodontidae |
| Genus: | Arothron |
| Scientific Name: | Arothron mappa |
| Also Known As: | Map Puffer, Map Pufferfish, Scribbled Pufferfish, Kesho-Fugu |
| Conservation Status: | Least Concern |