Guineafowl Puffer, also known as the Golden Puffer, is a type of pufferfish found in the Indo-Pacific and Eastern Pacific regions.
It sometimes appears in aquariums. However, it’s not reef-safe. When scared or threatened, this fish puffs up to appear larger and show off its rough skin.
Guineafowl puffer lives around coral reefs in clear lagoons and prefers ocean locations.
It usually swims alone near the bottom of the water. Guineafowl puffers mainly eat coral tips but also consume sponges, mollusks, algae, and other sea creatures.
Guineafowl Puffer Interesting Facts
- Guineafowl puffers can grow up to 19.7 inches (50.0 centimeters) long and feature round bodies with bright spots.
- They puff up when threatened, displaying their rough, sandpaper-like skin.
- Found near coral reefs, guineafowl puffers eat a variety of marine life including corals and algae.
- These fish reproduce by laying eggs through oviparous reproduction.
Guineafowl Puffer Habitat
Guineafowl puffer is found in the Indo-Pacific region, from East Africa to Panama, and as far north as Japan’s Ryukyu Islands and south to Lord Howe and Easter Islands.
In the Eastern Pacific area, its habitat ranges from Guaymas, Mexico to Ecuador.
This fish lives in marine environments near reefs at depths of 1 to 73 meters (3 to 240 feet). It thrives in tropical waters between 30°N to 32°S latitudes.
| Water Temperature: | Unknown |
| Water pH: | Unknown |
| Water Hardness: | Unknown |
Guineafowl Puffer Physical Characteristics
Size: 19.7 inches (50.0 centimeters)
Guineafowl puffers grow up to 19.7 inches (50.0 centimeters) long. They have a black color with tiny white spots all over its head, body, and fins.
Their head is large having short nose and strong teeth. These fish also have small fins on their backs and bottoms, which are located near the end of their bodies.
Their tail fins are round, and their skin feels rough like sandpaper. Guineafowl puffers fish don’t have dorsal spines, but they have 10 to 12 dorsal soft rays and 11 to 13 anal soft rays.
Their body is covered in small, sharp bumps called prickles. There are no prickles around their mouth or on certain parts of their back.
These fish has a short snout that’s about one-half the length of its head.
Their tail fin is also short and round, measuring between 4.5 to 5 times smaller than their body length.
Guineafowl Puffer Reproduction
Guineafowl puffer reproduces by laying eggs, which is called oviparous reproduction.
Guineafowl Puffer Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Tetraodontiformes |
| Family: | Tetraodontidae |
| Genus: | Arothron |
| Scientific Name: | Arothron meleagris |
| Also Known As: | Guineafowl Puffer, Golden Puffer |
| Conservation Status: | Least Concern |