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Blowfish (Lagocephalus lunaris) — Tetraodontidae

Blowfish

Lagocephalus lunaris
LC · Least Concern

The Blowfish (Lagocephalus lunaris) is a brackish-water fish of the family Tetraodontidae that grows up to 45 cm.

Length
45 cm
Water
Brackish
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Venomous / poisonous
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The lunartail puffer is a pufferfish of the family Tetraodontidae from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 45 cm and has a streamlined body with a greenish to grey back, a white belly and a conspicuously crescent-shaped tail. It is mainly marine but occasionally enters estuaries, and lives over sandy bottoms and often on coastal reefs. As a predator it feeds on crustaceans, molluscs and small fishes. Like other puffers it can inflate itself, and its skin, organs and flesh can contain the deadly poison tetrodotoxin; therefore do not eat this fish.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blowfish?

The Blowfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly green and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Blowfish live?

The Blowfish lives in brackish water and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Blowfish get?

The Blowfish grows to a maximum of about 45 cm.

Is the Blowfish dangerous to humans?

The Blowfish is venomous — handle spines with care and seek medical help after a sting if needed.

Is the Blowfish edible?

The Blowfish is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Maanstaart-kogelvis sourced
English name
Blowfish verified
Scientific name
Lagocephalus lunaris
Family
Tetraodontidae
Other names
Golden toadfish; Green bough backed blowfish; Green pufferfish; Green rough-backed puffer verified

Appearance

Size class
Large verified
Max length (cm)
45.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Green inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Crescent (lunate) inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Brackish sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Venomous / poisonous sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Lagocephalus

More from the family Tetraodontidae

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