Northern puffer (Sphoeroides maculatus)

Scientific name: Sphoeroides maculatus Bloch & Schneider, 1801

The Northern puffer (Sphoeroides maculatus) is a brackish-water fish of the family Tetraodontidae. Native range: Western Atlantic, Newfoundland in Canada to northeastern Florida in USA.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 7. Upper side grey or brown with poorly defined black spots and saddles. Belly yellow to white. Tiny jet-black pepper spots (about 1 mm in diameter) scattered over most of pigmented surface, particularly evident on cheeks. Lower sides with a row of black, elongate, bar-like markings. No lappets on head or body (Ref 53033).

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Sphoeroides maculatus
Family: Tetraodontidae (Puffers)
Order: Tetraodontiformes (Puffers and Filefishes)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 36.0
Common length: 20.0
Depth range: 10–183 m (33–600 ft)
Environment: Marine; brackish; demersal; depth range 10 - 183 m
Climate: Temperate
Distribution: Western Atlantic: Newfoundland in Canada to northeastern Florida in USA.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Fisheries: minor commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (K=0.6)