by Jenn Zamorsky

Created on: October 28, 2008   Last Updated: December 21, 2009

The Pufferfish, not to be confused with the Porcupine Fish, is the second most poisonous vertebrae in the world! The very distinctive difference between the Pufferfish and Porcupine fish is that the Porcupine Fish have large, very visible spines and belong to an entirely different family called the Diodontidae. The Pufferfish is virtually spineless and belongs to the family Tetraodontidae. There are many different types of Pufferfish such as the Stars and Stripes Puffer, the Dogface Puffer and the Figure Eight Puffer.

Pufferfish are most known for their natural defense: to inflate. Their slow speed makes them a very easy target for predators, so the puffer has the ability to inflate quite rapidly. When they see or sense a predator coming their way, they fill their elastic stomachs with water from their surroundings. Thus making themselves seem to grow before their predators eyes and mostly scaring them off! This inflation is made possible because the Pufferfish has no ribs to get in the way.

Another defense tactic that the Pufferfish has is that most are quite poisonous to their predators and to humans. Produced in their bodies is neurotoxin, with the proper name of Tetradotoxin. This toxin is produced primarily in ovaries and the liver, but can also be found in the intestines, skin, muscle tissue and blood. Bacteria in the puffer's environment is what causes the production of this toxin in the puffer's body. Therefor, puffers that were raises strictly in captivity will produce no toxins at all. A quite interesting fact about Pufferfish is that professionals have made a potent pain killer called Tectin. This is derived from Tetrodotoxin and has been known to treat people in pain or those experiencing withdrawels; of course, Tectin is used only in very small doses because of it's strength. It is a known fact that not all puffers are poisonous. In fact, some meat of the puffers, when extracted very carefully, are actually a delicacy in Japan and Korea. If you get a chance and are feeling adventurous, try the Fugu dish in Japan!

Either in their natural habitat or in your home aquarium, the Pufferfish is a very interesting thing to watch. Their appearance alone is something to take pleasure in. Every puffer can be recognized by it's bright colors and distinct markings. They can also change their colors and patterns to better blend with their environment, making them harder to see in the eyes of their predators. Another very distinguishing characteristic of the

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