Scientific Name
Takifugu vermicularis

Common Name
Purple puffer

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-15; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 10 - 13. Body without prickles. Brown vermiculations dorsally, white ventrally. Pectoral and dorsal fins yellow; anal fin white; caudal fin yellow with dark rays (Ref. 559).

Classification

Classified By

Temminck & Schlegel, 1850

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Puffers and Filefishes (Tetraodontiformes)

Family

Puffers (Tetraodontidae)

Distribution

Region

Northwest Pacific

Distribution

Northwest Pacific: Japan to the East China Sea.

Range

40°N - 22°N, 115°E - 145°E

Environment

Climate

Temperate

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Marine; demersal

Trophic Level

3.31 s.e. 0.43 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

30.0 cm

Common Length

Unknown cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (38 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Assuming tm=2-4)

Threat To Humans

Poisonous to eat (Ref. 559)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated