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Naked puffer (Sphoeroides lispus) — Tetraodontidae

Naked puffer

Sphoeroides lispus
LC · Least Concern

The Naked puffer (Sphoeroides lispus) is a saltwater fish of the family Tetraodontidae that grows up to 35 cm.

Length
35.2 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
5.0–20.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The naked puffer is a pufferfish of the family Tetraodontidae from the eastern Pacific. The species grows to about 35 cm and has a stocky body with a smooth, nearly spineless skin and the beak-like fused jaw plates characteristic of puffers. Adults live in bays and over sandy bottoms; juveniles often in more open water. With its powerful beak it crushes hard-shelled prey such as molluscs and crustaceans. Like other puffers it can inflate itself, and its skin and organs can contain the poison tetrodotoxin; therefore do not eat this fish.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Naked puffer?

The Naked puffer has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Naked puffer live?

The Naked puffer lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Naked puffer get?

The Naked puffer grows to a maximum of about 35 cm.

Is the Naked puffer dangerous to humans?

No, the Naked puffer is harmless to humans.

Is the Naked puffer edible?

The Naked puffer is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Gladde kogelvis sourced
English name
Naked puffer verified
Scientific name
Sphoeroides lispus
Family
Tetraodontidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
35.2 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain inferred
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal inferred
Lips
Thick / fleshy inferred
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous inferred
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
5.0 verified
Max depth (m)
20.0 verified
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Sphoeroides

More from the family Tetraodontidae

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