Porcupine Pufferfish

Porcupine pufferfish by Sam

The long-spine porcupinefish is also known as the spiny balloonfish.

The Long-spine porcupinefish is circumtropical in distribution, being found in the tropical zones of major seas and oceans:

• In the Atlantic it is found from Florida and the Bahamas to Brazil and in the Eastern Atlantic from 30°N to 23°S, as well as around South Africa.
• In the western Indian Ocean from the southern Red Sea to Madagascar, Réunion and Mauritius.
• In the Pacific Ocean from southern Japan to Lord Howe Island, and east to the Hawaiian and Easter islands. Also from southern California to Colombia and the Galapagos Islands.

Pale in colour with large black blotches and smaller black spots, these spots becoming fewer in number with age. Has many long, two-rooted depressible spines. Adults may reach 50cm in length.