White Spotted Puffer

White Spotted Puffer (Arothron hispidus)

The white-spotted pufferfish, or Arothron hispidus, commonly found in the reefs of East Africa, is also known as the hispid pufferfish. These fish are frequently spotted swimming around reef edges. They maintain a symbiotic relationship with certain bacteria, such as Pseudoalteromonas tetraodonis, which produces tetrodotoxin, a potent neurotoxin found in their skin and internal organs. White-spotted pufferfish lack scales and a lateral line, featuring prominent nostrils on their snouts. Their background color is light grey, brown, sometimes adorned with darker brown blotches. The body is covered in white dots, with a broken white ring around each eye. The lower body and underside are paler, often transitioning to white. The pectoral fins are ringed with a black circle, usually edged with a single yellow or white line, although occasionally this line may be double. The fins are typically translucent, with white dots extending onto the base of the caudal fin. They lack pelvic fins and have the ability to move their eyes independently, providing them with excellent vision. Fully grown, they can reach up to 48 cm in length, though they are usually slightly smaller. Like other pufferfish, they can inflate themselves by taking in water, making it difficult for predators to consume them. White-spotted pufferfish are commonly seen swimming just above the reef and are seldom found in open water, though this can occur occasionally. Despite their toxic defense, they prefer to stay near cover.