Caribbean Sharpnose Puffer, scientifically known as Canthigaster rostrata, is a small, toxic fish from the Western Central Atlantic.
It has a long lifespan and lives around 10 years in the wild. Females tend to live longer because males have aggressive behavior.
You can find this fish from South Carolina to Venezuela, including Bermuda, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea.
Although it’s poisonous due to tetrodotoxin in its body, it’s sometimes seen in aquariums.
Caribbean sharpnose puffer lives in reefs and areas like seagrass beds. Its diet includes seagrass, sponges, crabs, mollusks, worms, sea urchins, starfishes, hydroids, and algae.
This fish is monogamous (mates with only one partner) but is not completely safe for all reef aquariums.
Caribbean Sharpnose Puffer Interesting Facts
- Caribbean sharpnose puffer has tetrodotoxin, making it toxic to predators.
- These fish are monogamous and found in habitats ranging from South Carolina to Venezuela.
- They grow up to 4.7 inches (12.0 centimeters) long and have a unique dark stripe pattern on their bodies.
- Caribbean sharpnose puffer lays eggs but doesn’t provide parental care for its offspring.
Caribbean Sharpnose Puffer Habitat
Caribbean sharpnose puffer is found in the Western Central Atlantic region. Its habitat stretches from South Carolina and Bermuda to Tobago and the Lesser Antilles.
The Canthigaster specimens discovered in Madeira are actually a different species called Canthigaster capistrata.
This marine fish lives in reef environments at depths of 1 to 40 meters and are found in tropical waters with coordinates ranging from 34°N to 8°N and 98°W to 59°W.
| Water Temperature: | Unknown |
| Water pH: | Unknown |
| Water Hardness: | Unknown |
Caribbean Sharpnose Puffer Physical Characteristics
Size: 4.7 inches (12.0 centimeters)
Caribbean sharpnose puffer grows up to 4.7 inches (12.0 centimeters) long.
It has no dorsal spines, but it does have 10 to 11 dorsal soft rays and 9 anal soft rays.
One unique feature is its short dark stripe on the upper side of its body, along with some spots on its sides and back. There’s no large spot above its eye.
This dark stripe starts at the top edge of the tail fin and goes forward to the base of the dorsal fin.
In some fish, there are more dark spots in front of this stripe, but they don’t form a continuous line.
The Caribbean sharpnose puffer also lacks vertical bars on its tail fin and has bars on its snout instead.
Caribbean Sharpnose Puffer Reproduction
Caribbean sharpnose puffer is an oviparous species, meaning it lays eggs.
According to research, this fish doesn’t provide any parental care to its offspring.
Caribbean Sharpnose Puffer Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Tetraodontiformes |
| Family: | Tetraodontidae |
| Genus: | Canthigaster |
| Scientific Name: | Canthigaster rostrata |
| Also Known As: | Caribbean Sharpnose Puffer |
| Conservation Status: | Unknown |