Lophodiodon calori (Bianconi, 1854)
Four-bar porcupinefish
Lophodiodon calori
photo by Field, R.

Family:  Diodontidae (Porcupinefishes (burrfishes))
Max. size:  30 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range - 100 m
Distribution:  Indo-Pacific.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-12; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 10-11. Pelagic specimens with small spots covering body; benthic specimens with 4 dark bars on flanks and a blotch on each pectoral and dorsal fin bases; fins unspotted (Ref. 4423). Description: Characterized by light brown color dorsally and white ventrally; black lips; blackish bar below eye; short spines, most on head and belly two-rooted and erectile, spines on sides and back three-rooted and fixed; caudal peduncle with a pair of prominent spines dorsally (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Continental shelves to 100 m (Ref. 9680). Also found on sand-rubble bottoms (Ref. 90102). Adults benthic, juveniles pelagic (Ref. 30573). Presumably feeds on hard-shelled invertebrates (Ref. 9680). Not usually marketed (Ref. 9680). Not a common species (Ref. 9680).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Photographed by J.E. Randall from Masirah Island, E side (Ref. 28618) and illustrated from a fish caught from Juzor al Hallinayat (Ref. 11441).


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