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Starry Pufferfish

Fish · Least Concern

Starry Pufferfish

Arothron stellatus

About

Large white pufferfish covered in black dots, on sandy reef margins.

Family
Tetraodontidae
Avg size
80-120 cm
Habitat
The starry pufferfish occurs in tropical and subtropical waters from the Indian Ocean and Red Sea as far as Polynesia, southern Japan, the western, northern, and eastern coasts of Australia, and Lord Howe Island. A relatively uncommon fish, it lives near outer reef slopes and sheltered lagoons with clear water, usually close to sandy areas, from the surface down to about 58 m (190 ft).
Behaviour
It feeds on benthic invertebrates, sponges, algae, the polyps of corals such as Acropora, crustaceans, and molluscs. Active by day, it is largely solitary and defends a territory.

Where & when

Where & When to See It

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