Black-spotted Porcupinefish, Diodon hystrix Linnaeus, 1758

Scientific name: Diodon hystrix
Black-spotted Porcupinefish, Diodon hystrix Click to enlarge image
A Black-spotted Porcupinefish at a depth of 18 m, Redang Island, off the east coast of peninsular Malaysia, April 2001. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Diodon
    Species
    hystrix
    Family
    Diodontidae
    Order
    Tetraodontiformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to at least 70 cm in length.

Introduction

The Black-spotted Porcupinefish is a tropical species that has black spots on the head, body and fins. It is usually found on coral and rocky reefs.

Identification

The Black-spotted Porcupinefish has stout spines on the head and body. It is greenish to grey-brown above and paler below. The head, body and fins are covered with fine black spots

The spines on the body are erectile (as opposed to those of Allomycterus and Chilomycterus)

Black-spotted Porcupinefish, Diodon hystrix
Black-spotted Porcupinefish, Diodon hystrix - pectoral fin
Black-spotted Porcupinefish, Diodon hystrix- dorsal fin.

Habitat

The species is usually found on coral and rocky reefs.

Distribution

It occurs in tropical marine waters worldwide.

In Australia it is known from off north-western Western Australia and the northern Great Barrier Reef to northern New South Wales.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian Reef Fishes. Coral Graphics. Pp. 330.
  3. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.