Arothron

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Arothron

White-spotted Puffer, Arothron hispidus

Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Tetraodontiformes
Family:	Tetraodontidae
Genus:	Arothron Müller, 1841

Species

See text.

The genus Arothron, or fat puffers, is a member of the pufferfish family (Tetraodontidae). Arothron is perhaps notable as being the pufferfish most commonly kept by marine aquarists. Also it is especially this genus that divers and hobbyists describe as being 'cute', due to their large expressive eyes, the ability to blink and vocalise and their dog-like snouts. The largest of these is the species stellatus which can grow to 48 inches in length.

All species of puffers are highly toxic, containing a lethal poison called tetrodotoxin, perhaps the most potent toxin in nature, 10,000 times more powerful than cyanide. A dose of 1 - 2 mg of toxin can be lethal. Reported cases from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have documented toxicity with ingestion of as little as 1.4 ounces of puffer fish. Patients with severe toxicity may have deep coma, fixed nonreactive pupils, apnea, and loss of all brain stem reflexes. Death can occur within 4 - 6 hours. Typically, death occurs from respiratory muscle paralysis and respiratory failure.