Arothron immaculatus ( Bloch and Schneider, 1801 )

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 : 7-8

Arothron immaculatus ( Bloch and Schneider, 1801)

Immaculate puffer

( Fig.7).

Crayracion immaculatus Tetraodon aspilos

Tetraodon immaculatus

Common names. Narrow lined toadfish, immaculate puffer fish, immaculate blow fish.

Habitat. Brackish, Marine, Reef-associated, depth range 1– 17 m.

Colour. Head and body uniformly brown to dark gray above and white below. A dark blotch at base of pectoral fin and caudal fin with dark outer margin.

Geographical distribution. Indo-West Pacific (except Hawaii) to Indonesia; north to southern Japan and Indian Ocean. ( Mohsin and Ambak, 1996).

Description of species. Dorsal soft spines (total): 9–10; Pectoral soft spines: 16–17; Anal soft spines: 8–9; Caudal soft spines: 9

Body is oblong and nearly cylindrical in cross section (globular when inflated), dorsal profile convex. Entire head and body except for lips, caudal peduncle and fins, covered with prickles. Dark bars on side of head and below pectoral fins; juvenile specimens from the Pacific with longitudinal dark stripes on belly. Nasal organ in front of eye with 2 fleshy lobes formed by bifurcation of a single base.

Biology and fishery. This species lives rarely on coral reefs and often in estuaries. Mostly occupying weedy areas, sea grass beds and mangrove areas were presents in 1–1.5 m. Maximum length 30.0 cm TL unsexed. Specimens caught by trawling over silty bottoms in 17m.

Remarks. This species is easily distinguished from its closely related species by having a round caudal. Upper region of the body appears uniform brown or dark gray in colour.

They are more poisonous. Consumption of flesh can cause death.