Samuel Okoruwa
At first glance, puffer fish are gentle-looking, attractive and slow moving creature yet this exotic species of fish are among the deadliest creatures in the world. Whether it is their chameleon-like attributes or unique ability to bloat, Puffer Fish are very fascinating animals.
Here are 10 facts you probably don’t know about puffer fish:
1. There are about 120 species of puffer fish in the world. They can be found in both saltwater and freshwater habitats.
2. Puffer fish vary in size. The Stellate puffer fish can measure up to 47 inches or 4 feet long and is native to Japan and Africa. The smallest puffer fish, on the other hand, is less than an inch long. Interestingly, this dwarf puffer fish can choose whether to become male or female.
3. They have a unique defence mechanism – an ability to puff up, hence the name puffer fish. When a puffer fish feels threatened and defenceless, they gulp in so much air that makes them inflate and look unappealing to their predators. This, added to the presence of small pointed spines on their bodies make them
4. Puffer fish are among the most poisonous animals on the planet! In addition to their ability to scare of predators, they release toxins 100 times more poisonous than cyanide. They also carry enough toxins in their livers enough to kill 30 adult humans and there is no known antidote! Next to the poison dart frog, puffer fish are the most poisonous animals in the world.
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5. Puffer fish are considered a culinary delicacy in some parts of Asia despite the toxins they harbour.Only specially-trained chefs can prepare them or else they can be deadly to those who eat them. Despite the precaution taken, some people still get poisoned and die annually from the toxins in the puffer fish.
6.They can be kept as pets but require an experienced owner. First, they require a lot of water and quality diet. Also, they must be kept alone as they are carnivorous and will eat other fish or bite at their fins. Here is a video of a ferocious puffer fish eating other animals
Incredible 😍 pic.twitter.com/KWaI7b2vlV
— Physics & Astronomy Zone (@ZonePhysics) September 5, 2019
7. Their teeth keep growing throughout their lives because they eat hard food. These teeth are also called beaks and can grow o long that they prevent the puffer fish form eating leading to starvation.
8. Some species of the puffer fish are endangered. For instance, the Chinese Puffer population has declined by 99% in the past 40 years due to overfishing for its meat. Canthigaster cyanetron, which is a puffer fish that can be found around Easter Island, has declined drastically in population due to the destruction of reefs around its habitat.
The redline puffer, which is native to Cross River in Nigeria, and the dwarf puffered are considered species vulnerable to extinction.
9. The Puffer Fish can live for up to 10 years.
10. Puffer Fish are very much like chameleons. They can change their colour in response to their environment and have the ability to move their right eye in a different direction from their left eye so they can look at two different things at the same time.
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