| Green puffer fish | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Tetraodontiformes |
| Family: | Tetraodontidae |
| Genus: | Tetraodon |
| Species: | T. fluviatilis |
| Binomial name | |
| Tetraodon fluviatilis Hamilton, 1822 |
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The green puffer (Tetraodon fluviatilis) is a species of Tetraodon, the largest genus in the pufferfish family.
Contents |
Tetraodon fluviatilis is found in Asia. Specifially it is in waters in and around Bangledesh, India, Sri Lanka, and the Philippines. Its habitat includes: rivers, lakes and flood plains. It lives in fresh water to slightly brackish water.
This species is primarily carnivorous, eating mollusks, crustaceans, invertebrates, some small fish. In captivity it will eat some vegetation and commercial fish food. The green pufferfish has sharp front beak, allowing it to crush shellfish and crabs
The green pufferfish grows up to 15 cm long, with a white underbelly and a metallic yellow or green top covered in black spots, bulging eyes which are metallic blue colour, a very thick and broad forehead. Its body usually has a leathery texture, but green pufferfish grown in captivity tend to have smoother skin. Its flesh contains a virulent toxin, and shouldn’t be eaten.
This fish is generally peaceful, but becomes more aggressive as it ages. The green pufferfish is able to scare off predators by inflating its body with both water and air, more than doubling in size.
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