Longnose puffer (Sphoeroides lobatus)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Sphoeroides lobatus
- Common name
- Longnose puffer
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Tetraodontidae
- Genus
- Sphoeroides
- Size
- 15–30 cm
- Depth
- 1–60 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- rocky-reef, sandy-bottom
- Behaviours
- benthic, nocturnal
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific, Caribbean, Eastern Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea, Macaronesia
Description
Sphoeroides lobatus reaches 30 cm. East Pacific pufferfish (Tetraodontidae) with beige to brown-green body mottled with darker markings, characterized by lobed skin appendages (hence lobatus) around body giving it an irregular appearance. Lives from 1 to 60 m on rocky reefs and sandy bottoms from Mexico to Chile. Nocturnal, benthic predator. Toxic (tetrodotoxin). Less spectacular than S. annulatus as dive photo subject but typical of Pacific coast.
Photo of Longnose puffer
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Longnose puffer?
- Longnose puffer (Sphoeroides lobatus) reaches 15–30 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Longnose puffer?
- Longnose puffer is found between 1–60 m deep.
- Is the Longnose puffer dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Longnose puffer?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Longnose puffer?
- Found in: Asian Pacific, Caribbean, Eastern Pacific, Indian Ocean & Red Sea, Macaronesia.
Other species in the genus Sphoeroides
Other species in the family Tetraodontidae
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 275279)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2407883)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia