Stellate puffer (Arothron stellatus) fish species and information / pictures of Stellate puffer - Arothron stellatus

Stellate puffer (Arothron stellatus) fish species information

Scientific Name
Arothron stellatus

Common Name
Stellate puffer

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-12; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 10 - 11. Body covered with prickles (Ref. 559). Juveniles with dark stripes on belly, becoming spots with growth; adults with or without spots on fin (Ref. 4919).

Classification

Classified By

Anonymous, 1798

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Puffers and Filefishes (Tetraodontiformes)

Family

Puffers (Tetraodontidae)

Distribution

Region

Indo-Pacific

Distribution

Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa (Ref. 4919) to the Tuamoto Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island. Southeast Atlantic: south coast of South Africa (Ref. 4919).

Range

32°N - 32°S

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

3 m

Depth To - meters

58 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 3 - 58 m (Ref. 1602)

Trophic Level

3.34 s.e. 0.46 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

120 cm

Common Length

54.0 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: of no interest

Vulnerability

High to very high vulnerability (67 of 100)

Resilience

Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

Poisonous to eat (Ref. 559)

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated