Lagocephalus laevigatus (Linnaeus, 1766)
Smooth puffer
photo by Alvheim, O./Institute of Marine Research (IMR)

Family:  Tetraodontidae (Puffers), subfamily: Tetraodontinae
Max. size:  100 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 4,870.0 g
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; brackish; marine; depth range 10 - 180 m
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: New England, USA and Bermuda to Argentina (Ref. 47377). Eastern Atlantic: Mauritania to Namibia (Ref. 27121). Southwest Atlantic: Sergipe, Brazil (Ref. 118626).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13-15; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 12-13
Biology:  Inhabits inshore and near-shore areas, over sand or mud bottoms. Usually found alone or in small, loose aggregates. Adults are pelagic, but near continental margins; young are commonly found on coastal and offshore banks (Ref. 7251). Feeds on fish and shrimps (Ref. 28587). Minimum depth from Ref. 26912. Its flesh is very delicate; nevertheless, in certain region like the Pacific and the Indian Ocean, it is toxic (particularly the skin and the viscera) (Ref. 5377). Poisonous, should not be eaten (Ref. 36731).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 08 June 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  other


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.