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Freckled Porcupinefish
Diodon holocanthus Linnaeus, 1758
A Freckled Porcupinefish at a depth of 14 m, Fly Point Marine Reserve, Port Stephens, New South Wales, December 2005. Photo © D. & L. Atkinson. View larger image.
The Freckled Porcupinefish has long moveable spines on the head and body. It is covered with small dark spots. There are large dusky to light brown blotches (reddish in upper image) above the eyes, on the dorsal fin base and above the pectoral fins.
The species grows to about 35 cm in length.
The Freckled Porcupinefish occurs worldwide in coastal, coral reef and estuarine waters in tropical and some warm temperate regions.
In Australia it is known from south-western Western Australia, around the tropical north of the country and on the east coast south to southern New South Wales.
View a map of the collecting localities of specimens in the Australian Museum Fish Collection.
It has also been called the Fine-spotted Porcupinefish and Long-spined Porcupine Fish.
Related links
- Black-spotted Porcupinefish fact sheet
- How often a pufferfish can inflate? FAQ
- Spiny Pufferfish Jaw
- Spiny Pufferfish palate
- View the Spiny Pufferfishes list
- View the family Diodontidae list
Further reading
- Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
- Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
- Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Gary Allen. Pp. 437.
- Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 251.
