Sharpnose puffer | |
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Clown toado, Canthigaster callisterna | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Tetraodontiformes |
Family: | Tetraodontidae |
Genus: | Canthigaster Swainson, 1839 |
Species | |
See text. |
Canthigaster is a genus in the pufferfish family (Tetraodontidae). A fish from this genus is sometimes referred to as a "toby" (a generally accepted name that originated in Australia) or a "sharpnose puffer". [1]
There are currently 37 recognized species in this genus: [2] [3]
Tetraodontidae is a family of primarily marine and estuarine fish of the order Tetraodontiformes. The family includes many familiar species variously called pufferfish, puffers, balloonfish, blowfish, blowies, bubblefish, globefish, swellfish, toadfish, toadies, honey toads, sugar toads, and sea squab. They are morphologically similar to the closely related porcupinefish, which have large external spines. The scientific name refers to the four large teeth, fused into an upper and lower plate, which are used for crushing the hard shells of crustaceans and mollusks, their natural prey.
Arothron is a genus in the pufferfish family Tetraodontidae found in warm parts of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean. These species are sometimes kept in aquaria. The largest species is A. stellatus, which can reach 1.2 m (3.9 ft) in length.
Valentin's sharpnose puffer, also known as the saddled puffer or black saddled toby, is a demersal marine fish belonging to the family Tetraodontidae. The saddled puffer is a small sized fish which grows up to 11 cm. It is widely distributed throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indian Ocean, Red Sea included, and until the oceanic islands of the Pacific Ocean. It inhabits rocky and coral reefs, lagoons and external reef until 55 m. Canthigaster valentini has a diurnal activity.
The map puffer, also known as the map pufferfish, scribbled pufferfish, or Kesho-fugu, is a demersal marine fish belonging to the family Tetraodontidae. The map puffer is typically found in tropical and subtropical waters from the Indian Ocean to the western Pacific Ocean. This fish contains tetrodotoxin, a potent and deadly chemical compound used to ward off predators. Despite being highly poisonous, the map puffer can be found both in the aquarium trade and certain food markets.
Torquigener is a genus of pufferfishes native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Their name refers to their ability to build circular structures on sandy sea bottom.
Pseudanthias is a genus of colourful reef fishes of the subfamily Anthiinae, part of the family Serranidae, the groupers and sea basses. They are found in the Indo-Pacific. The species belonging to this genus have a diet consisting of zooplankton, and are haremic. Fishes currently included in this genus were earlier part of the genus Anthias. Pseudanthias is the largest anthiine genus
Canthigaster rostrata, commonly known as the Caribbean sharp-nose puffer, is a pufferfish from the Western Central Atlantic. The Caribbean sharp-nose puffer is a small fish with a maximum length of 12 cm or approximately 4.7 inches. It can be encountered from the coast of South Carolina to Venezuela, including Bermuda, the Gulf of Mexico, and in the Caribbean Sea. They can live up to 10 years in the wild, females typically live longer due to aggressive male territory behavior. The Caribbean sharp-nose puffer is a highly toxic species of marine fish due to the presence of tetrodotoxin in its tissues and organs. Despite its toxicity, the sharp-nose pufferfish occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade.
Canthigaster margaritata, the pearl toby, is a species of "toby" or "sharpnose puffer" (Canthigaster), which is part of the pufferfish family, Tetraodontidae. This reef fish is found in Indo-Pacific waters, including the Red Sea.
Canthigaster tyleri, also known as Tyler's toby, is a species of marine fish in the family Tetraodontidae.
Canthigaster amboinensis, commonly known as Ambon pufferfish or Ambon toby, is a species of pufferfish of the family Tetraodontidae. The species is common, and native, to the tropical Indo-Pacific Ocean, including Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan and the Hawaiian Islands. The species is named after the island of Ambon in Indonesia.
Canthigaster supramacula, known as the West African sharpnose-puffer, is a species of marine fish in the family Tetraodontidae. It was first isolated from the coast of central Africa, in the Atlantic Ocean. It is named in reference to the conspicuous ocellus-like spot on its side, anterior to its dorsal fin's base.
Canthigaster jamestyleri, known as the goldface toby, is a species of marine fish in the family Tetraodontidae. It was first isolated from the southeast coast of the US, in the Atlantic Ocean.
Canthigaster figueiredoi, known as the Southern Atlantic sharpnose-puffer, is a species of marine fish in the family Tetraodontidae. It was first isolated from the east coast of South America, in the Atlantic Ocean.
Canthigaster cyanospilota, commonly known as blue-spotted toby, is a species of pufferfish of the family Tetraodontidae. The species is found throughout the Indian Ocean, including the red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba. They feed on a variety of benthic invertebrates and are listed in the IUCN Red List as Least Concern.
Canthigaster capistrata, known as the Macaronesian sharpnose-puffer, is a species of pufferfish in the family Tetraodontidae. It is native to the Eastern Atlantic, where it is known to occur near oceanic islands. The species reaches at least 13 cm in total length.
Canthigaster criobe, known as the striped toby, is a species of pufferfish in the family Tetraodontidae. It is known only from French Polynesia, where it occurs at a depth range of 15 to 20 m. The species is currently known to reach up to 3.9 cm SL, though it is possible that larger specimens exist that have not yet been reported or collected as typical members of Canthigaster are notably larger. It has multiple thin brown stripes along its body, a feature which sets it apart from its congeners. It was described in 2012 and named for the Centre de Recherche Insulaire et Observatoire de l'Environnement (CRIOBE), Moorea, French Polynesia, in recognition of the laboratory's continued support of marine research in the area.
Canthigaster punctatissima, known as the spotted sharpnose puffer or the spotted sharpnosed puffer, is a species of pufferfish in the family Tetraodontidae. It is native to the Eastern Pacific, where it ranges from Guaymas, Mexico to Panama and the Galápagos Islands. It is replaced by its close relatives C. janthinoptera and C. jactator in the Western Pacific and the Hawaiian Islands, respectively. It is found in sheltered areas of rocky reefs at a depth range of 3 to 21 m and reaches 9 cm in total length. The species is reported to be monogamous.
Canthigaster leoparda, known as the leopard sharpnose puffer, is a species of pufferfish in the family Tetraodontidae. It is native to the Indo-Pacific, ranging from Christmas Island to the Philippines, Ambon, and Guam. It occurs at a depth range of 30 to 50 m, and it is usually found in the vicinity of drop-offs and caves. It reaches 7.5 cm SL and is often seen either alone or in pairs. The species is known to be oviparous.
Canthigaster aziz, known as Aziz's toby, is a species of pufferfish in the family Tetraodontidae. It was described in 2020 by Keiichi Matsuura, Sergey V. Bogorodsky, Ahmad O. Mal, and Tilman J. Alpermann based on a single specimen collected from the northern Red Sea off of Saudi Arabia. It was trawled from a depth of 315 m, which is reportedly the second highest depth at which any fish of the genus Canthigaster has been collected. The only known specimen measures 2 cm SL. The species was named after the King Abdulaziz University. It is thought to have been collected over a hard substrate as the trawling gear used to collect it was severely damaged during operation.
Canthigaster smithae, known as the bicolored toby, is a species of pufferfish in the family Tetraodontidae native to the Indian Ocean. It ranges from Agaléga, Mauritius to Durban, South Africa, as well as the Maldives. It is a reef-associated species found at a depth of 20 to 40 m, where it typically occurs alone near rubble and steep rock walls. It is oviparous and reaches 13 cm in total length.