Fact: Sometimes porcupinefish and pufferfish are collectively known as pufferfish (this is where confusion often sets in)
The Tetradontiformes are represented by 10 families with about 360 different species overall; most are marine and they are most diverse in the tropics with very few species in temperate waters, they are completely absent from cold waters. A few species are found in freshwater streams and estuaries.
This post is mostly focused on the difference between porcupinefish and pufferfish because during a conversation with a friend today we were unsure whether the fish we were discussing were called porcupinefish, balloonfish or pufferfish. So this post is for my dear friend and big brother Kana 😀
| Common name | Porcupinefish / Balloonfish | Pufferfish |
| Family | Diodontidae | Tetraodontidae |
| Defence mechanisms | Puff up body by drawing in water or air through the mouth into a small chamber near the stomach.
Their body is covered with sharp spines which… |
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nattster 