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Diodontidae: Porcupine fishes (burrfishes, spiny puffers)
Citation
Leis, JM, Diodontidae: Porcupine fishes (burrfishes, spiny puffers), The Living Marine Resources of the Eastern Central Atlantic, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, KE Carpenter, N De Angelis (ed), Rome, Italy, pp. 3074-3079. (2016) [Other Book Chapter]
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Abstract
Diagnostic characters: Small to medium-sized fishes to 1 m in length, commonly 20-50 cm. Body
wide and capable of great inflation, covered with massive spines which may be quite long;
spines with large bases, or roots, under the skin; long spines usually erectile and 2-rooted, short spines
fixed in erect position by their 3-rooted bases. Head broad and blunt; gill opening a relatively small, vertical
slit immediately before pectoral-fin base; nasal organ usually in small tentacles located in front of large
eyes; mouth large, wide and terminal, teeth fused to form a strong, beak-like crushing structure
without a median suture dividing the upper and lower jaws into left and right halves. Dorsal and
anal fins without spines, set far back on body, and like caudal fin, generally rounded; most fin rays
branched; bases of fins often thick and fleshy; no pelvic fins. Lateral line inconspicuous. No normal
scales. Colour: background colour light tan to brown, but grey not uncommon; usually overlain with dark
brown to black spots, bars and/or blotches; green overtones and yellowish spots may also be present.
Undamaged spines covered with skin that continues colour pattern. Belly white, often with yellow overtone.
A pelagic species is deep blue dorsally, and pelagic juveniles of other species may also be blue, but pelagic
juveniles of some Chilomycterus species are yellow with dark, ring-shaped markings.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Other Book Chapter |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | Eastern Central Atlantic, Diodontidae, porcupine fishes, diagnostic characteristics |
| Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
| Research Group: | Ecology |
| Research Field: | Ecological physiology |
| Objective Division: | Animal Production and Animal Primary Products |
| Objective Group: | Fisheries - wild caught |
| Objective Field: | Fisheries - recreational freshwater |
| UTAS Author: | Leis, JM (Dr Jeff Leis) |
| ID Code: | 111142 |
| Year Published: | 2016 |
| Deposited By: | Ecology and Biodiversity |
| Deposited On: | 2016-08-31 |
| Last Modified: | 2016-09-01 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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