Porcupine Fish
Diodon hystrix
The spot-fin porcupinefish, also called the spotted, black-spotted, or simply porcupinefish, is a member of the family Diodontidae.
Family
Diodontidae
Avg Size
40-60 cm
Habitat
The porcupinefish is found around the globe in tropical and subtropical waters. It has turned up twice in the Mediterranean, off southern Italy in 1963 and the Balearic Islands in 2016. Juveniles live in open water until they reach about 20 cm in length, after which adults prefer lagoons, reef tops, and seaward coral or rocky reefs from 1 to 50 m deep, sheltering under ledges or in caves by day.
Behaviour
The porcupinefish lives alone except when mating and is active at night, with its peak activity around sunset and sunrise. Its diet is built on sea urchins, gastropods, clams, and crustaceans.
Where & When to See It
Shag Rock (Kingston)
North Gabr El Bint
Abu Nuhas
Siyul Kebira
Small Crack
North Ras Abu Galum
Chrisoula K
Eel Gardens
Blue Hole - El Bells
South Ras Abu Galum
Thistlegorm
Giannis D
Moray Garden - Golden Blocks
Ras Abu Helal
The Canyon
The Caves
The Islands
Three Pools
Shaab El Erg
Kimon M
Carnatic
Dunraven (Beacon Rock)
Lighthouse
Napoleon Reef
Ras Bob
Ras Burg
Ras Disha
Ras Ghamila
Ras Ghozlani
Ras Katy
Ras Um Sid
Ras Zaatar
Salem Express
Shaab Eissa
Shaab Eshta
Shaab Maksur
Shaab Sabina
Shaab Sataya
Shabrur Um Gamar
Shark Observatory
Sodfa
Soma Bay Garden
Temple
The Alternatives
Turft El Shahed
Turtle Bay
Turtle Reef
Umm Gamar South
White Knight
Woodhouse Reef
Abu Dabbab
Abu Kifan
Abu Ramada North
Abu Ramada South
Belina Wreck
Erg Abu Ramada
Gota Abu Ramada
Middle Garden
Near Garden
Pinky Wall
Ras Nasrani
Sha'ab Samadai (Dolphin House)
Sha'ab Sharm
Shaab Abu Nugar
Shaab Claudia
Shaab Petra
Shark & Yolanda Reef
Shark's Bay
Small Giftun
Far Garden
Abu Hashish
Amphoras
Banana Reef
Big Giftun
Careless Reef
Eel Garden
El Erug
El Fanadir
El Fanous West
El Mina Wreck
Elphinstone
Erg Sabina
Erg Somaya
Fiddle Garden
Fury Shoals
Gordon Reef
Hamda
Jackfish Alley
Jackson Reef
Kormoran
Laguna Reef
Panorama Reef
Paradise
Abu Ghalawa
Thomas Reef
Tower
Umm Gamar North
Habili Ali