Arothron stellatus (Anonymous, 1798)

Veeruraj, Anguchamy, Arumugam, Muthuvel, Ajithkumar, Thangappan & Balasubramanian, Thangavel, 2011, Distribution of Tetraodontiformes (Family: Tetraodontidae) along the Parangipettai Coast, Southeast coast of India, Zootaxa 3015, pp. 1-12 : 6-7

Arothron stellatus (Anonymous, 1798)

Stellate puffer

( Fig.6)

Takifugu stellatus Tetraodon stellatus Arothron stellus

Common names. Star puffer, Star blaasop and starry puffer fish.

Habitat. Brackish, Marine, Reef-associated, depth range 3– 58 m.

Colour. Colour pattern varies with growth. In adults, head and body brownish to light brown on upper region of dorsal surface, becoming white below abdominal. Upper region of body, head, caudal peduncle and caudal fin also covered with numerous black spots. Lower side below pectoral fin with more or less developed band or blotches; base of pectoral fin and areas around anus black. In juveniles, lower region with numerous broad black vermiculations which continue to other side of body. Continuous band on dorsal surface and on reaching 26 mm size bands becomes discontinuous. Once it attained 45 mm this process of band formation is completed ( Kuthalingam et al., 1973).

Geographical distribution. Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Tuamoto Islands, north to southern Japan, and south to Lord Howe Island. Southeast Atlantic: south coast of South Africa ( Mohsin and Ambak, 1996). Description of species. Dorsal soft spines (total): 10–11; Pectoral soft spines: 17–18; Anal soft spines: 10 11; caudal soft spines: 9

Body short and oblong with broad head and back. Dorsal profile of the body slightly convex and dorsal profile of head straight to slightly concave. Body covered with prickles. Interorbital space broad and flat; eye small, situated just below dorsal profile of head.

Biology and fishery. Epibenthic, benthopelagic and mainly marine. Juveniles common inshore, usually on muddy substrates and often in estuaries. Adults on deep slopes and outer reefs, sometimes swimming high above the substrate or just below the surface. Pelagic larvae may disperse over great distance and juveniles occur in subtropical zone. Specimens above 45 m consume amphipods, crustaceans, fish eggs and diatoms ( Kuthalingam et al.1973). The length ranged from 15.5 to 115 cm TL male/unsexed generally caught with fishing trawls and fiber boat.

Remarks. Considerable changes in colour pattern occur in this species. This species is easily distinguished from its closely related Arothron reticularis by having numerous black spots. It is not a commercial species.