Starry Pufferfish
Arothron stellatus
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 to See It
Big Brother Island
Aida
Numidia
Little Brother Island
Fiddle Garden
Abu Nuhas
Amphoras
Bluff Point
Carnatic
Chrisoula K
Dunraven (Beacon Rock)
Eel Garden
Far Garden
Giannis D
Gordon Reef
Jackfish Alley
Jackson Reef
Kimon M
Kormoran
Laguna Reef
Middle Garden
Paradise
Pinky Wall
Ras Bob
Ras Burg
Ras Ghamila
Ras Ghozlani
Ras Katy
Ras Nasrani
Ras Um Sid
Rosalie Moller
Shaab Claudia
Shaab Sataya
Shag Rock (Kingston)
Shark Observatory
Shark's Bay
Siyul Kebira
Small Crack
Sodfa
Temple
The Alternatives
The Barge at Bluff Point
The Ulysses
Thistlegorm
Thomas Reef
Tower
Turtle Bay
White Knight
Woodhouse Reef
Zabargad Island
Abu Ghalawa
Near Garden
Ras Zaatar
Rocky Island
Shark & Yolanda Reef
Turtle Reef
Salem Express
Sha'ab Samadai (Dolphin House)
Sha'ab Sharm
Umm Gamar North
Banana Reef
Belina Wreck
Abu Ramada South
Big Giftun
Shaab El Erg
Careless Reef
Shaab Eshta
Shaab Maksur
Shaab Sabina
Umm Gamar South
El Erug
El Fanadir
El Fanous West
El Mina Wreck
Elphinstone
Erg Abu Ramada
Erg Sabina
Erg Somaya
Shaab Petra
Abu Hashish
Fury Shoals
Shabrur Um Gamar
Ras Disha
Gota Abu Ramada
Abu Dabbab
Small Giftun
Blue Hole - El Bells
Soma Bay Garden
South Ras Abu Galum
Lighthouse
Abu Ramada North
Eel Gardens
Moray Garden - Golden Blocks
Napoleon Reef
North Gabr El Bint
North Ras Abu Galum
Abu Kifan
Panorama Reef
Habili Ali
Hamda
Ras Abu Helal
The Canyon
The Caves
The Islands
Three Pools
Turft El Shahed
Shaab Abu Nugar
Shaab Eissa