puffer fish

Fish of the family Tetraodontidae. As a means of defence it inflates its body with water until it becomes spherical and the skin spines become erect. Puffer fish are mainly found in warm waters, where they feed on molluscs, crustaceans, and coral.

There are approximately 120 puffer fish species. They vary in size, up to 50 cm/20 in long. To allow inflation, they have elastic skin and no ribs. The skin of some puffer fish is poisonous (gram for gram, it is 10,000 times more toxic than cyanide). In Japan, where they are called fugu, they are prized as a delicacy after the poison has been removed. Nevertheless, the death of about 100 diners is recorded each year.