Bullseye puffer (Sphoeroides annulatus)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Sphoeroides annulatus
- Common name
- Bullseye puffer
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Tetraodontidae
- Genus
- Sphoeroides
- Size
- 20–43 cm
- Depth
- 3–90 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- rocky-reef, sandy-bottom
- Behaviours
- benthic, nocturnal
- Ocean zones
- Caribbean, Eastern Pacific
Description
Sphoeroides annulatus reaches 43 cm. East Pacific pufferfish (Tetraodontidae) from Mexico to Peru with brown-yellow to olive-brown body with distinctive blue-turquoise to electric-blue concentric rings on back (hence annulatus), white belly, small dermal spines. Lives from 3 to 90 m on rocky reefs and sandy bottoms. Nocturnal, predator of crustaceans and mollusks. Toxic flesh (tetrodotoxin) but locally consumed with preparation. Sea of Cortez and Galapagos dive photo subject for its graphic patterns.
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Bullseye puffer?
- Bullseye puffer (Sphoeroides annulatus) reaches 20–43 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Bullseye puffer?
- Bullseye puffer is found between 3–90 m deep.
- Is the Bullseye puffer dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Bullseye puffer?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Bullseye puffer?
- Found in: Caribbean, Eastern Pacific.
Other species in the genus Sphoeroides
Other species in the family Tetraodontidae
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 275272)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2407867)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia