Pufferfishes, triggerfishes & boxfishes

260 species · 10 families

Pufferfishes, triggerfishes and boxfishes are slow-swimming but well-defended fish with a small mouth and an often stiff, armoured or inflatable body. Puffers suck in water until they form a spiny ball and in many species carry a potent toxin. Triggerfishes can lock their first dorsal spine upright to wedge themselves into a crevice. Boxfishes sit in a rigid bony armour with only the fins for propulsion. With their strong jaws and tooth plates they crush shellfish, coral and sea urchins.

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Acreichthys hajam

Acreichthys hajam

Monacanthidae

Amazon puffer

Colomesus asellus

Tetraodontidae

Ambon toby

Canthigaster amboinensis

Tetraodontidae

American whitespotted filefish

Cantherhines macrocerus

Monacanthidae

Arabian picassofish

Rhinecanthus assasi

Balistidae

Balloonfish

Dicotylichthys punctulatus

Diodontidae

Banded leather-jacket

Acreichthys tomentosus

Monacanthidae

Banded puffer

Colomesus psittacus

Tetraodontidae

Banded sharpnose pufferfish

Canthigaster coronata

Tetraodontidae

Banded toadfish

Marilyna pleurosticta

Tetraodontidae

Banded toadfish

Torquigener pleurogramma

Tetraodontidae

Banded toby

Canthigaster valentini

Tetraodontidae

Bandtail puffer

Sphoeroides spengleri

Tetraodontidae

Barbelled leatherjacket

Anacanthus barbatus

Monacanthidae

Barred filefish

Cantherhines dumerilii

Monacanthidae

Barred toadfish

Contusus richei

Tetraodontidae

Basketfish

Kentrocapros aculeatus

Aracanidae

Batfish

Aluterus monoceros

Monacanthidae

Beaked leatherjacket

Oxymonacanthus longirostris

Monacanthidae

Beautiful leatherjacket

Meuschenia venusta

Monacanthidae

Bennetti's sharpnose puffer

Canthigaster bennetti

Tetraodontidae

Big-spotted triggerfish

Balistoides conspicillum

Balistidae

Birdbeak burrfish

Cyclichthys orbicularis

Diodontidae

Black boxfish

Ostracion meleagris

Ostraciidae

Black durgeon

Melichthys niger

Balistidae

Black patch triggerish

Rhinecanthus verrucosus

Balistidae

Black scraper

Thamnaconus modestus

Monacanthidae

Black spotted blow fish

Arothron nigropunctatus

Tetraodontidae

Black triggerfish

Sufflamen chrysopterum

Balistidae

Black-banded triggerfish

Rhinecanthus rectangulus

Balistidae

Black-blotched porcupinefish

Diodon liturosus

Diodontidae

Black-blotched turretfish

Tetrosomus gibbosus

Ostraciidae

Black-bodied triggerfish

Odonus niger

Balistidae

Black-finned triple-spine

Triacanthus biaculeatus

Triacanthidae

Black-lined pufferfish

Arothron stellatus

Tetraodontidae

Black-lipped triggerfish

Balistoides viridescens

Balistidae

Black-spot keeled pufferfish

Triodon macropterus

Triodontidae

Black-spotted triggerfish

Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus

Balistidae

Blackbar filefish

Pervagor janthinosoma

Monacanthidae

Blackbar triggerfish

Rhinecanthus aculeatus

Balistidae

Blackedged blaasop

Arothron immaculatus

Tetraodontidae

Blackhead filefish

Pervagor melanocephalus

Monacanthidae

Blacklined filefish

Pervagor nigrolineatus

Monacanthidae

Blacksaddle filefish

Paraluteres prionurus

Monacanthidae

Blackstriped filefish

Paramonacanthus pusillus

Monacanthidae

Blacktip tripodfish

Trixiphichthys weberi

Triacanthidae

Blotched tripodfish

Pseudotriacanthus strigilifer

Triacanthidae

Blow up

Diodon nicthemerus

Diodontidae

Blowfish

Lagocephalus lunaris

Tetraodontidae

Blue triggerfish

Pseudobalistes fuscus

Balistidae

Blue-throat trigger

Xanthichthys mento

Balistidae

Bluefin leatherjacket

Thamnaconus degeni

Monacanthidae

Bluespotted boxfish

Ostracion immaculatus

Ostraciidae

Bluespotted leatherjacket

Eubalichthys caeruleoguttatus

Monacanthidae

Bluespotted puffer

Arothron caeruleopunctatus

Tetraodontidae

Bluespotted toadfish

Omegophora cyanopunctata

Tetraodontidae

Bluespotted triggerfish

Balistes punctatus

Balistidae

Bluetail trunkfish

Ostracion cyanurus

Ostraciidae

Bluethroat triggerfish

Sufflamen albicaudatum

Balistidae

Blunthead puffer

Sphoeroides pachygaster

Tetraodontidae

Blunthead triggerfish

Pseudobalistes naufragium

Balistidae

Boomer spikefish

Bathyphylax bombifrons

Triacanthodidae

Boomerang triggerfish

Sufflamen bursa

Balistidae

Boxfish

Lactoria cornuta

Ostraciidae

Bridle triggerfish

Sufflamen fraenatum

Balistidae

Bridled burrfish

Chilomycterus antennatus

Diodontidae

Bridled leatherjacket

Acanthaluteres spilomelanurus

Monacanthidae

Broad barred puffer

Arothron hispidus

Tetraodontidae

Broadhead puffer

Chelonodon laticeps

Tetraodontidae

Bronze puffer

Chonerhinos naritus

Tetraodontidae

Broom filefish

Amanses scopas

Monacanthidae

Brown burrfish

Chilomycterus spinosus

Diodontidae

Brown leather-jacket

Cantherhines pardalis

Monacanthidae

Brown-lined puffer

Canthigaster rivulata

Tetraodontidae

Brownback puffer

Lagocephalus gloveri

Tetraodontidae

Buffalo trunkfish

Lactophrys trigonus

Ostraciidae

Bullseye puffer

Sphoeroides annulatus

Tetraodontidae

Caribbean puffer

Sphoeroides greeleyi

Tetraodontidae

Centre board leatherjacket

Monacanthus chinensis

Monacanthidae

Checkered puffer

Sphoeroides testudineus

Tetraodontidae

Cheek-barred toadfish

Torquigener hypselogeneion

Tetraodontidae

Chinaman

Nelusetta ayraud

Monacanthidae

Clown toado

Canthigaster callisterna

Tetraodontidae

Cochinchina puffer

Pao cochinchinensis

Tetraodontidae

Common puffer

Dichotomyctere fluviatilis

Tetraodontidae

Common triggerfish

Balistes capriscus

Balistidae

Common trumpetsnout

Macrorhamphosodes uradoi

Triacanthodidae

Compressed toby

Canthigaster compressa

Tetraodontidae

Congo puffer

Tetraodon miurus

Tetraodontidae

Coral butterfly

Tetraodon lineatus

Tetraodontidae

Cow

Lactoria diaphana

Ostraciidae

Cream fish

Meuschenia scaber

Monacanthidae

Cross River puffer

Tetraodon pustulatus

Tetraodontidae

Cryptic filefish

Paramonacanthus japonicus

Monacanthidae

Cuckold

Cantherhines pullus

Monacanthidae

Deep-bodied leatherjacket

Eubalichthys mosaicus

Monacanthidae

Deepsea spikefish

Tydemania navigatoris

Triacanthodidae

Deepwater basketfish

Kentrocapros rosapinto

Aracanidae

Deepwater burrfish

Allomycterus pilatus

Diodontidae

Deepwater Picasso triggerfish

Rhinecanthus abyssus

Balistidae

Diamond filefish

Rudarius excelsus

Monacanthidae

Diamondback puffer

Lagocephalus guentheri

Tetraodontidae

Dotterel filefish

Aluterus heudelotii

Monacanthidae

Dwarf sunfish

Ranzania laevis

Molidae

Eclipse puffer

Takifugu ocellatus

Tetraodontidae

Estuary filefish

Paramonacanthus tricuspis

Monacanthidae

Evileye blaasop

Amblyrhynchotes honckenii

Tetraodontidae

False-eye toby

Canthigaster solandri

Tetraodontidae

Fantail filefish

Pervagor spilosoma

Monacanthidae

Figueiredo's sharpnose puffer

Canthigaster figueiredoi

Tetraodontidae

Filefish

Canthidermis sufflamen

Balistidae

Finepatterned puffer

Takifugu poecilonotus

Tetraodontidae

Finescale triggerfish

Balistes polylepis

Balistidae

Flat-nailed triggerfish

Abalistes stellatus

Balistidae

Fourbar porcupinefish

Lophodiodon calori

Diodontidae

Fourspine leatherjacket

Eubalichthys quadrispinis

Monacanthidae

Fresh water puffer fish

Tetraodon mbu

Tetraodontidae

Freycinet's leatherjacket

Meuschenia freycineti

Monacanthidae

Fringed filefish

Monacanthus ciliatus

Monacanthidae

Giant toadfish

Lagocephalus sceleratus

Tetraodontidae

Gilded triggerfish

Xanthichthys auromarginatus

Balistidae

Golden filefish

Stephanolepis auratus

Monacanthidae

Golden puffer

Auriglobus modestus

Tetraodontidae

Goldface toby

Canthigaster jamestyleri

Tetraodontidae

Grass puffer

Takifugu niphobles

Tetraodontidae

Green-spotted toby

Canthigaster janthinoptera

Tetraodontidae

Grooved filefish

Paramonacanthus sulcatus

Monacanthidae

Guineafowl blaasop

Arothron meleagris

Tetraodontidae

Guinean puffer

Sphoeroides marmoratus

Tetraodontidae

Hair-finned filefish

Paramonacanthus oblongus

Monacanthidae

Half-smooth golden pufferfish

Lagocephalus spadiceus

Tetraodontidae

Halstead's toadfish

Reicheltia halsteadi

Tetraodontidae

Hardenberg's burrfish

Cyclichthys hardenbergi

Diodontidae

Hardys toadfish

Contusus brevicaudus

Tetraodontidae

Hawaiian whitespotted toby

Canthigaster jactator

Tetraodontidae

Hicks' toadfish

Torquigener hicksi

Tetraodontidae

Hiddentooth filefish

Paramonacanthus cryptodon

Monacanthidae

Honeycomb cowfish

Acanthostracion polygonius

Ostraciidae

Horn-nosed boxfish

Ostracion rhinorhynchos

Ostraciidae

Horse-shoe leatherjacket

Meuschenia hippocrepis

Monacanthidae

Humpback puffer

Pao palembangensis

Tetraodontidae

Indian triggerfish

Melichthys indicus

Balistidae

Island cowfish

Acanthostracion notacanthus

Ostraciidae

Jambeau

Parahollardia lineata

Triacanthodidae

Japanese pufferfish

Takifugu rubripes

Tetraodontidae

Lantern toby

Canthigaster epilampra

Tetraodontidae

Largescale leatherjacket

Cantheschenia grandisquamis

Monacanthidae

Largescale triggerfish

Canthidermis macrolepis

Balistidae

Lattice blaasop

Takifugu oblongus

Tetraodontidae

Least puffer

Sphoeroides parvus

Tetraodontidae

Leatherjacket

Stephanolepis setifer

Monacanthidae

Leatherjacket

Pseudalutarius nasicornis

Monacanthidae

Leatherjacket

Balistapus undulatus

Balistidae

Leatherjacket

Melichthys vidua

Balistidae

Lesser-spotted leatherjacket

Thamnaconus hypargyreus

Monacanthidae

Lined toado

Arothron reticularis

Tetraodontidae

Long-tail tripodfish

Tripodichthys blochii

Triacanthidae

Longnose puffer

Sphoeroides lobatus

Tetraodontidae

Longsnout spikefish

Halimochirurgus centriscoides

Triacanthodidae

Longspined porcupinefish

Diodon holocanthus

Diodontidae

Macaronesian sharpnose puffer

Canthigaster capistrata

Tetraodontidae

Map puffer

Arothron mappa

Tetraodontidae

Marbled puffer

Sphoeroides dorsalis

Tetraodontidae

Marbled puffer

Sphoeroides kendalli

Tetraodontidae

Mead's spikefish

Hollardia meadi

Triacanthodidae

Mekong puffer

Pao turgidus

Tetraodontidae

Milkspotted puffer

Chelonodon patoca

Tetraodontidae

Minute filefish

Rudarius minutus

Monacanthidae

Modest filefish

Thamnaconus modestoides

Monacanthidae

Naked puffer

Sphoeroides lispus

Tetraodontidae

Narrow-headed puffer

Sphoeroides angusticeps

Tetraodontidae

Narrow-lined puffer

Arothron manilensis

Tetraodontidae

Northern puffer

Sphoeroides maculatus

Tetraodontidae

Ocean sunfish

Mola mola

Molidae

Ocean triggerfish

Canthidermis maculata

Balistidae

Oceanic puffer

Lagocephalus lagocephalus

Tetraodontidae

Ocellated pufferfish

Leiodon cutcutia

Tetraodontidae

Old wife

Balistes vetula

Balistidae

Orange filefish

Aluterus schoepfii

Monacanthidae

Orangeside triggerfish

Sufflamen verres

Balistidae

Ornate cowfish

Aracana ornata

Aracanidae

Panther puffer

Takifugu pardalis

Tetraodontidae

Paxman's filefish

Colurodontis paxmani

Monacanthidae

Pear puffer

Takifugu vermicularis

Tetraodontidae

Pelagic porcupinefish

Diodon eydouxii

Diodontidae

Peruvian puffer

Sphoeroides sechurae

Tetraodontidae

Pig-faced leather jacket

Paramonacanthus choirocephalus

Monacanthidae

Planehead filefish

Stephanolepis hispidus

Monacanthidae

Prickly puffer

Ephippion guttifer

Tetraodontidae

Puffer

Sphoeroides nephelus

Tetraodontidae

Pufferfish

Canthigaster margaritata

Tetraodontidae

Pygmy leatherjacket

Brachaluteres jacksonianus

Monacanthidae

Pygmy puffer

Sphoeroides trichocephalus

Tetraodontidae

Randall's toadfish

Torquigener randalli

Tetraodontidae

Red spikefish

Triacanthodes anomalus

Triacanthodidae

Redeye puffer

Carinotetraodon lorteti

Tetraodontidae

Ringed pufferfish

Omegophora armilla

Tetraodontidae

Rosenblatt's puffer

Sphoeroides rosenblatti

Tetraodontidae

Rough leatherjacket

Scobinichthys granulatus

Monacanthidae

Sandwich isle file

Cantherhines sandwichiensis

Monacanthidae

Sargassum triggerfish

Xanthichthys ringens

Balistidae

Scalytail toadfish

Torquigener squamicauda

Tetraodontidae

Scrawled cowfish

Acanthostracion quadricornis

Ostraciidae

Scrawled filefish

Aluterus scriptus

Monacanthidae

Sharpfin sunfish

Masturus lanceolatus

Molidae

Sharpnose puffer

Canthigaster rostrata

Tetraodontidae

Sharpnose puffer

Canthigaster investigatoris

Tetraodontidae

Shaw's cowfish

Aracana aurita

Aracanidae

Shell fish

Lactophrys triqueter

Ostraciidae

Shortfin puffer

Torquigener brevipinnis

Tetraodontidae

Shortnose boxfish

Rhynchostracion nasus

Ostraciidae

Shortsnout filefish

Paramonacanthus curtorhynchos

Monacanthidae

Shortsnout spikefish

Triacanthodes ethiops

Triacanthodidae

Silver tripodfish

Triacanthus nieuhofii

Triacanthidae

Slender Fiiefish

Monacanthus tuckeri

Monacanthidae

Smallspine turretfish

Tetrosomus reipublicae

Ostraciidae

Smooth blaasop

Lagocephalus inermis

Tetraodontidae

Smooth boxfish

Anoplocapros inermis

Aracanidae

Smooth puffer

Lagocephalus laevigatus

Tetraodontidae

Smooth toadfish

Tetractenos glaber

Tetraodontidae

Smooth-tailed puffer

Pao leiurus

Tetraodontidae

Solor boxfish

Ostracion solorensis

Ostraciidae

Speckled puffer

Sphoeroides yergeri

Tetraodontidae

Spiny blaasop

Tylerius spinosissimus

Tetraodontidae

Spot-fin porcupinefish

Diodon hystrix

Diodontidae

Spotback toby

Canthigaster supramacula

Tetraodontidae

Spotfin burrfish

Chilomycterus reticulatus

Diodontidae

Spotflank puffer

Chelonodon pleurospilus

Tetraodontidae

Spotted Congo puffer

Tetraodon schoutedeni

Tetraodontidae

Spotted sharpnose puffer

Canthigaster punctatissima

Tetraodontidae

Spotted toby

Canthigaster punctata

Tetraodontidae

Spotted trunkfish

Lactophrys bicaudalis

Ostraciidae

Starry toadfish

Arothron firmamentum

Tetraodontidae

Starry triggerfish

Abalistes stellaris

Balistidae

Strapweed filefish

Pseudomonacanthus macrurus

Monacanthidae

Striped burrfish

Chilomycterus schoepfii

Diodontidae

Striped redeye puffer

Carinotetraodon salivator

Tetraodontidae

Striped triggerfish

Xanthichthys lineopunctatus

Balistidae

Swollenchest triggerfish

Xenobalistes tumidipectoris

Balistidae

Tasselled leatherjacket

Chaetodermis penicilligerus

Monacanthidae

Thornback cowfish

Lactoria fornasini

Ostraciidae

Threadfin filefish

Paramonacanthus nematophorus

Monacanthidae

Threadsail filefish

Stephanolepis cirrhifer

Monacanthidae

Threadtail filefish

Arotrolepis filicauda

Monacanthidae

Toothbrush leatherjacket

Acanthaluteres vittiger

Monacanthidae

Triangular boxfish

Tetrosomus concatenatus

Ostraciidae

Triplespine

Tripodichthys angustifrons

Triacanthidae

Trumpetsnout spikefish

Macrorhamphosodes platycheilus

Triacanthodidae

Undermarked toby

Canthigaster inframacula

Tetraodontidae

Velvet cuskeel

Lalmohania velutina

Monacanthidae

Web burrfish

Chilomycterus antillarum

Diodontidae

Wheeler's puffer

Lagocephalus wheeleri

Tetraodontidae

Whitespotted pygmy filefish

Rudarius ercodes

Monacanthidae

Whitley's boxfish

Ostracion whitleyi

Ostraciidae

Yellow boxfish

Ostracion cubicus

Ostraciidae

Yellow-striped basketfish

Kentrocapros flavofasciatus

Aracanidae

Yellow-striped leatherjacket

Meuschenia flavolineata

Monacanthidae

Yellowfin puffer

Takifugu xanthopterus

Tetraodontidae

Yellownet toby

Canthigaster flavoreticulata

Tetraodontidae

Yellowtail filefish

Thamnaconus analis

Monacanthidae