Dwarf pufferfish

Last updated

Dwarf pufferfish
abenipahua.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Tetraodontiformes
Family: Tetraodontidae
Genus: Carinotetraodon
Species:
C. travancoricus
Binomial name
Carinotetraodon travancoricus
(Hora & K.K. Nair, 1941) [2]
Synonyms [1] [2]
  • Tetraodon travancoricus
    Hora & K.K. Nair, 1941
  • Monotretus travancoricus
    (Hora & K.K. Nair, 1941)

The dwarf pufferfish (Carinotetraodon travancoricus), also known as the Malabar pufferfish, pygmy pufferfish, or pea pufferfish, is a small freshwater pufferfish endemic to Kerala and southern Karnataka in Southwest India. They are popular in aquaria for their bright colours and small size. At a maximum total length of 3.5 cm, dwarf pufferfish are one of the smallest pufferfish in the world. They closely resemble the related Carinotetraodon imitator , and the two can be difficult to distinguish. C. imitator was not recognised as a different species until 1999.

Contents

Dwarf pufferfish dwell at the bottom of heavily vegetated waterways, predating small animals. Unlike other species of pufferfish, they are found in large groups in the wild. They breed throughout most of the year, with spawning pairs producing 1–5 eggs in 1–4 day intervals. Habitat loss and overharvesting for the aquarium trade threaten wild populations of dwarf pufferfish.

Taxonomy

The dwarf pufferfish was first described as Tetraodon (Monotretus) travancoricus in 1941 by S.L. Hora and K.K. Nair, [3] [4] with the type locality given as "Pamba River, Central Travancore". [2] The use of parentheses indicates Monotretus is the subgenus of Tetraodon. Carinotetraodon was considered a synonym of Tetraodon until 1978, when J.C. Tyler treated it as a valid genus in a paper about Carinotetraodon lorteti , which was an opinion followed by M. Kottelat et al. in 1993 and K.K.P. Lim and M. Kottelat in 1995. [4] The first use of "Carinotetraodon travancoricus" was in 1999 by R. Britz and M. Kottelat when first describing Carinotetraodon imitator , a superficially similar and closely related species previously mistaken for dwarf pufferfish. [4] "Carinotetraodon" is derived from the Latin word "carina" (keel-shaped, shell) and Greek words "tetra" (four) and "odous" (teeth). [5] The justification for moving to Carinotetraodon was based largely on osteological evidence and not on the presence of skin keels, which other members of the genus have, but which had not been confirmed in dwarf pufferfish until one year later in aquarium literature. [6] Specifically, dwarf pufferfish possess vertebral modifications and a reduced number of total vertebrae similar to other members of Carinotetraodon, in addition to a small size and the presence of sexual dimorphism, also found amongst other members of this genus. [4]

The following cladogram is based on molecular evidence and demonstrates the polyphyletic nature of the genus Carinotetraodon. [7] [8] A polyphyletic genus is one in which members share common characteristics, but do not necessarily share an immediate common ancestor, and their placement is based on these shared traits rather than confirmed, empirical evidence. "Carinotetraodon" is represented in quotation marks to signify its polyphyletic status. Freshwater species are denoted with "FW". [7] [8] The cladogram is incomplete due to the absence of species like C. imitator, which have not undergone mitogenome analyses.

The closely related Dichotomyctere nigroviridis Tetraodon nigroviridis 1.jpg
The closely related Dichotomyctere nigroviridis
Tetraodontidae

Description

Dwarf pufferfish have dark, iridescent patches on their flanks and dorsal surfaces Carinotetraodon travancoricus by Parazelsus (cropped).jpg
Dwarf pufferfish have dark, iridescent patches on their flanks and dorsal surfaces

The maximum documented size is 3.5 cm (1.4 in) total length (TL), [9] with individuals typically reaching less than 2.5 cm (0.98 in) TL, [5] making dwarf pufferfish one of the smallest pufferfish in the world. [8] [10] Both sexes are primarily greenish-yellow, with dark green to brown-black iridescent patches on the flanks and dorsal surface. Patterns and colouration vary considerably between individuals. Their pectoral fins are short, fan-shaped, and described as "slightly emarginate", that is to say, slightly indented at the tip. The dorsal and anal fins are situated opposite each other toward the posterior of the fish, both short and round, while the caudal fin is larger than the other fins and truncate, in that it terminates in a more-or-less vertical edge. Their bodies are round and oblong. [2] [11] As with other members of the genus, sexual dimorphism is apparent in mature fish, with males being more brightly coloured than females [10] and having a yellow ventral surface. [12] Males can also have a dark stripe down the centre of their pale belly and iridescent, blue "eye wrinkle" patterns that females do not have. Females are more rounded, tend to be larger than males, and may have more small spots between their larger dark markings. Their abdomens are white, and they may have a yellow patch on their throat. [12]

Natural defenses

All pufferfish can inflate, or "puff up", their bodies by quickly ingesting large amounts of water (or air when necessary) into their highly elastic stomachs. [13] [14] Inflating tires pufferfish and can put them at greater risk of predation. [14] Like many other pufferfish, in the absence of scales, dwarf pufferfish have skin spines on most of their body. [4] [6] [15] These spines become erect when the fish is inflated. [15] Dwarf pufferfish, like many other Tetraodontiformes, produce tetrodotoxin, a highly lethal neurotoxin for which there is no antidote. [16] [17] The neurotoxin accumulates in the glands of the epidermis (surface layer of skin), ovaries, and livers of pufferfish. [16] These traits are anti-predator adaptations. The pufferfish's ability to inflate makes it difficult to swallow or bite, and the tetrodotoxin makes it unpalatable or even deadly for other fish. Biologists believe these adaptations evolved because of the slow swimming speeds of pufferfish. [13]

Resemblance to Carinotetraodon imitator

Carinotetraodon imitator is a species of related pufferfish closely resembling dwarf pufferfish. They are of similar size, shape, patterns, and colouration. Both species are found within the same region and may be sympatric, possibly inhabiting the same waters. Until 1999, C. imitator was mistaken as the same species, and the two could be found together in aquaria and were widely available in the international aquarium trade, both sold as dwarf pufferfish. Dwarf pufferfish can be distinguished from their congener (a member of the same genus), as C. imitator have smaller, faint blotches compared to dwarf pufferfish, as well as greatly reduced body spination. Male dwarf pufferfish have a darker yellow colouration and an iridescent "eye wrinkle" not found in males of C. imitator. [4]

Distribution and habitat

Global distribution Dwarf pufferfish distribution map.svg
Global distribution

Although closely related to marine pufferfish, they are not found in salt water, and reports to the contrary are based on misidentification. [19] Dwarf pufferfish are one of only 27 known species of Tetraodontidae adapted to freshwater. [20] They are a potamodromous species, [21] meaning they migrate within freshwater river systems, [22] and are endemic to rivers, lakes, and estuaries [23] in Kerala and southern Karnataka in the Western Ghats of Peninsular India. [1] [24] [3] They can be found in waters with a pH of 7.5–8.3 and temperatures of 22–28 °C (72–82 °F). [5] Inhabiting heavily vegetated waters with beds of gravel and rock or clay loam with silt and sand, [23] the species is reported from 13 rivers in Kerala, [25] lakes such as Vembanad, [26] the Nilambur harbours, [24] and Kallar Stream, part of the Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary. [23] They have been reported as rare in Bharathapuzha [27] and the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve. [28] The species was also found in inundated brickyards in Puthukkad, [29] as well as ditches, ponds, irrigation channels, and artificial tanks or abandoned water bodies in paddy fields. Their presence in small, isolated water bodies is likely due to unintentional dispersal by waterfowl. [30]

Conservation status

Several researchers have considered the species endangered, though with no rationale provided. [31] [32] [33] The dwarf pufferfish is officially classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List due to declining populations because of damming, indiscriminate deforestation for agriculture, pollution from wastewater, and, primarily, overfishing for the aquarium trade. [1] [25] In 2010, some researchers estimated that the population would decline by 30–40% from 2005 to 2015, [1] [31] while others estimated it had already declined by the same amount between 2005 and 2010. [34]

Diet and behaviour

Dwarf pufferfish are euryphagous carnivores in that they consume a wide variety of animals. Dwarf pufferfish favour insect larvae but will rely on crustaceans and annelids as alternate feed when the availability of preferable prey decreases. [35] Their diet in the wild mainly consists of small animals such as water fleas, rotifers, copepods, and seed shrimp, and aquatic larvae such as those of Odonata, Hemiptera, mayflies, and flies, with some amounts of plant matter, largely diatoms and green algae. [23] [35] Sand and detritus, presumably ingested by mistake when feeding on small, bottom-dwelling animals, have also been found in their gut. [23] [35]

Dwarf pufferfish shoaling in the wild, seen from above Carinotetraodon travancoricus shoaling.jpg
Dwarf pufferfish shoaling in the wild, seen from above

In captivity, dwarf pufferfish benefit from a varied diet and will eat small freshwater snails, shrimps, as well as foods like frozen mussel meat or other frozen shellfish. They will also readily eat live foods such as red and white mosquito larvae and other small animals they would predate in the wild. [36] Dwarf pufferfish are commonly associated with plants in the genus Cabomba, and the presence of these plants has been shown to reduce mortality among captive specimens. [25]

Dwarf pufferfish are a slow-swimming, [30] demersal (bottom-dwelling) species. [5] Unlike many pufferfish species, which are primarily solitary and potentially aggressive or territorial between conspecifics (members of the same species), [37] dwarf pufferfish are found in large shoals, occasionally consisting of hundreds of individuals. [29] They are found mainly during the summer months of January to May and rarely during the rainy season. [29] Shoaling fish experience stress or weight loss when kept in solitude or in groups too small. [38] [39]

Reproduction

In the wild, males with ripe gonads have been found during all months of the year but December and January, with the peak spawning period extending from May to August, concurring with the South-West monsoon period. [40] Within the Pamba River, the minimum size at which half the population becomes sexually mature is approximately 1.83 cm (0.72 in). Environmental and dietary conditions may influence the maturation rate of individuals. [40]

Juvenile Carinotetraodon travancoricus by OpenCage.jpg
Juvenile

The mid-dorsal and mid-ventral skin ridges of males become brown in colour during the spawning season. The belly of the female will swell, and the courting male will frequently chase the female and nibble at its belly. The female will then search for a suitable location to spawn while the male chases away other males. [20] In the aquarium, dwarf pufferfish are often plant-spawners, laying eggs in plants, including java moss, or on the substrate hidden within plants. [41] A female will scatter approximately 1–5 eggs, 1.43 mm (0.056 in) in mean diameter. The eggs are adhesive and appear transparent and round, with a mass of small oil globules. After laying, the eggs are then fertilized externally by the male. [20] Spawning has been observed in the evening, with the female resting on the spawning site and the male slowly approaching. After spawning, both fish will leave the site. The male will then quickly return to guard the eggs. [20] Sneaking ejaculation by other males has also been observed. [20] The pair may spawn multiple times in 1–4 day intervals. [20]

Eggs hatch after five days at 27 °C (81 °F), with larvae and fry in captivity initially fed infusoria, Brachionus (a genus of rotifers), frozen bloodworms, and brine shrimp when they are a week old. [41] [20] There is little information on what the larvae eat in the wild. [10] Hatched larvae are a mean of 3.15 mm (0.124 in) total length, with eyes incompletely developed and the body a red-brown. The yolk sac is consumed in four days, and the larvae commence swimming after six days, at which point their eyes are completely developed. [20]

There is no information available on the lifespans of these fish in the wild, but aquarists report specimens live for approximately five years in captivity. [12]

Association with humans

When first described in 1941, K. Nair noted that dwarf pufferfish were a favourite of children, who would catch and use the fish as playthings. [2] They were regarded as "frog tadpoles" by local fishermen [29] and otherwise given little consideration. They are of no interest to fisheries, [9] are not a food fish, and are only valued as ornamental fish in aquaria. [42] [1] Dwarf pufferfish have become popular as aquarium fish thanks to their attractive colours, small size, "puppy dog eyes", and relative ease of maintenance. [10] [35] The dwarf pufferfish is also one of the few aquarium fish to regularly eat small, live snails and thus can be helpful in controlling snail populations. [11]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tetraodontidae</span> Family of pufferfish

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, blowers, blowies, bubblefish, globefish, swellfish, toadfish, toadies, toadle, honey toads, sugar toads, and sea squab. They are morphologically similar to the closely related porcupinefish, which have large external spines.

<i>Takifugu</i> Genus of fishes

Takifugu, also known by the Japanese name fugu, is a genus of pufferfish with 25 species, most of which are native to salt and brackish waters of the northwest Pacific, but a few species are found in freshwater in Asia or more widely in the Indo-Pacific region. Their diet consists mostly of algae, molluscs, invertebrates and sometimes crustaceans.

<i>Tetraodon</i> Genus of fishes

Tetraodon is a genus in the pufferfish family (Tetraodontidae) found in freshwater in Africa. It is the type genus of the family and historically included numerous other species; several Asian species were moved to the genera Dichotomyctere, Leiodon and Pao in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mbu pufferfish</span> Species of fish

The Mbu pufferfish, also known as Mbuna pufferfish, giant pufferfish, or giant freshwater pufferfish, is a carnivorous freshwater pufferfish originating from the middle and lower sections of the Congo River in Africa, as well as the east coast of Lake Tanganyika near the Malagarasi River mouth.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fahaka pufferfish</span> Species of fish

The fahaka pufferfish, also known as the Nile puffer, globe fish, lineatus puffer, is a tropical freshwater pufferfish found in the upper Nile, Chad, Senegal, Gambia, Geba, Volta and Turkana basins in West, Northeast and East Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Congo pufferfish</span> Species of fish

The Congo puffer or potato puffer is a freshwater pufferfish found in areas of the Congo River in Africa, including rapids.

<i>Carinotetraodon</i> Genus of fishes

Carinotetraodon is a polyphyletic genus of small freshwater pufferfish found in South and Southeast Asia. Several species have commercial importance as aquarium fish.

<i>Dichotomyctere ocellatus</i> Species of fish

Dichotomyctere ocellatus, commonly the figure 8 puffer or eyespot puffer, is a pufferfish found in freshwater in Southeast Asia. It is known from the lower reaches of the Mekong (Cambodia), the Peninsular Malaysia as well as Borneo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Valentin's sharpnose puffer</span> Species of fish

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.

<i>Dichotomyctere nigroviridis</i> Species of fish

Dichotomyctere nigroviridis or the green spotted puffer is a species of pufferfish. It is found across South and Southeast Asia in coastal freshwater, but survives the longest in brackish to saltwater, and brackish water habitats. D. nigroviridis reaches a typical maximum length of about 15 cm (6 in) (5.9 in), with reports of up to 17 cm (6.7 in). In February 2009, it was successfully bred in captivity at University of Florida using a new variation of the ovarian lavage technique.

<i>Colomesus asellus</i> Species of fish

Colomesus asellus, the Amazon puffer, asellus puffer, South American freshwater puffer, Peruvian puffer, or Brazilian puffer is a species of pufferfish confined to the Amazon, Essequibo and Orinoco basins in tropical South America. It is a popular aquarium species.

<i>Carinotetraodon irrubesco</i> Species of fish

Carinotetraodon irrubesco, known commonly as the red-tail dwarf puffer, is a freshwater pufferfish found only in the lower Banyuasin basin in South Sumatra and the Sambas River in West Kalimantan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Grass puffer</span> Species of fish

The grass puffer, or Kusa-fugu, is a species of fish in the pufferfish family (Tetraodontidae). This common to abundant species is found in the northwest Pacific Ocean in China, Japan, Korea, the Philippines and Vietnam. It is primarily found in coastal waters, ranging to depths of 20 m (66 ft), but is often seen in brackish water and has also been recorded briefly entering freshwater. The grass puffer reaches up to 15 cm (6 in) in length.

<i>Pao palembangensis</i> Species of fish

Pao palembangensis, is a species of freshwater pufferfish native to Thailand, Laos, Malaysia and Indonesia in Southeast Asia. Its commonly called the humpback puffer or dragon puffer. It is bred for aquaria as an ornamental fish because of its beautiful skin colouration and pattern.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kallar River</span> A stream in Kerala, India

Kallar is the upper tributary of Vamanapuram River flowing through the Indian state of Kerala. The river originates in the Chemunjimotta hills hills on the southern side of the Western Ghats, and flows entirely through Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala. The Meenmutty Falls and Lower Meenmutty dam are situated in this river.

Carinotetraodon imitator, commonly known as the dwarf Malabar pufferfish, is a freshwater pufferfish found in the Western Ghats of India, with little information available on its complete distribution. It is one of the smallest pufferfish in the world, and closely resembles the related Carinotetraodon travancoricus.

Somphong's puffer, redeye puffer or crested puffer is a small freshwater blowfish found in mainlands Southeast Asia such as Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam. This fish has been collected in the past for the aquarium trade.

<i>Carinotetraodon borneensis</i> Species of fish

Carinotetraodonborneensis, sometimes known as the Bornean red-eye puffer, is a species of pufferfish in the family Tetraodontidae. It is a tropical freshwater species known only from southern Sarawak, Malaysia. It reaches 4.4 cm SL and is sometimes seen in the aquarium trade.

Carinotetraodon salivator, also known as the striped red-eye puffer, is a species of freshwater pufferfish in the family Tetraodontidae. It is a tropical species known only from Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo, where it occurs at a depth range of 1 to 2 m. It is found in large, fast-flowing streams with silty and sandy bottoms, leaf litter, and submerged logs. It reaches 4 cm (1.6 in) standard length and is occasionally seen in the aquarium trade.

<i>Takifugu chrysops</i> Species of fish

Takifugu chrysops is a species of pufferfish in the family Tetraodontidae. It is a marine species known from Japan, where it ranges from Tosa Bay to Tokyo Bay. It is a demersal fish that reaches 20 cm SL. Although sometimes known as the red-eyed puffer, this can lead to confusion with several freshwater species of the genus Carinotetraodon.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Dahanukar, N. (2011). "Carinotetraodon travancoricus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2011: e.T166591A174788004. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-1.RLTS.T166591A174788004.en . Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Hora, S.L.; Nair, K.K. (1941). "Notes on Fishes in the Indian Museum: XLI. New Records of Freshwater Fish from Travancore". Records of the Indian Museum. 43: 387–393. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  3. 1 2 Devi, K.R.; Indra, T.J.; Raghunathan, M.B. (2000). "On a report of Tetradon (Monotretus) travancoricus, from south Kanara, Karnataka, India". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 97 (3): 441–443. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Britz, R.; Kottelat, M. (May 1999). "Carinotetraodon imitator, a new freshwater pufferfish from India (Teleostei: Tetraodontiformes)". Journal of South Asian Natural History. 4 (1). Sri Lanka: Wildlife Heritage Trust of Sri Lanka: 39–47. ISSN   1022-0828 . Retrieved 19 May 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Carinotetraodon travancoricus". FishBase . June 2023 version.
  6. 1 2 Britz, R.; Ali, A.; Philip, S.; Kumar, K.; Raghavan, R. (October 2012). "First record from the wild of Carinotetraodon imitator in Peninsular India (Teleostei: Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae)". Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters. 23 (2): 105–109. ISSN   0936-9902 . Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  7. 1 2 Sathyajith, C.; Yamanoue, Y.; Yokobori, S.; Thampy, S.; Vattiringal Jayadradhan, R.K. (December 2019). "Mitogenome analysis of dwarf pufferfish (Carinotetraodon travancoricus) endemic to southwest India and its implications in the phylogeny of Tetraodontidae". Journal of Genetics. 98 (5): 98–105. doi:10.1007/s12041-019-1151-9. PMID   31819020. S2CID   208020436.
  8. 1 2 3 Santini, F.; Nguyen, M. T. T.; Sorenson, L.; Waltzek, T. B.; Lynch Alfaro, J. W.; Eastman, J. M.; Alfaro, M. E. (May 2013). "Do habitat shifts drive diversification in teleost fishes? An example from the pufferfishes (Tetraodontidae)". Journal of Evolutionary Biology. 26 (5): 1003–1018. doi:10.1111/jeb.12112. PMID   23496826. S2CID   25969423 . Retrieved 24 October 2023.
  9. 1 2 Talwar, P. K.; Jhingran, A.G. (1991). Inland fishes of India and adjacent countries. New Delhi: Oxford & IBH Pub. Co. ISBN   9788120406391.
  10. 1 2 3 4 Klaus, Ebert (2001). The Puffers of Fresh and Brackish Water. Aqualog. pp. 19, 46–49. ISBN   3-931702-60-X.
  11. 1 2 Anna Mercy, T.V.; Gopalakrishnan, A.; Kapoor, D.; Lakra, W.S. (2007). Ornamental fishes of the Western Ghats of India. Lucknow: National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources. pp. 227–228. ISBN   978-81-902951-8-5.
  12. 1 2 3 Hellweg, Mike (March 2007). "The Dwarf Puffer: A Pleasant Little Surprise". www.tfhmagazine.com. TFH Magazine . Retrieved 5 May 2022.
  13. 1 2 "Pufferfish | National Geographic". www.nationalgeograph.orc. National Geographic. 12 March 2010. Archived from the original on 29 March 2021. Retrieved 28 May 2022.
  14. 1 2 Geggel, Laura Geggel (4 December 2014). "Puffed-Up Blowfish Aren't Holding Their Breath". livescience.com. Live Science . Retrieved 18 October 2023.
  15. 1 2 Shono, T.; Thiery, A.P.; Cooper, R. L.; Kurokawa, D.; Britz, R.; Okabe, M.; Fraser, G.J. (September 2019). "Evolution and Developmental Diversity of Skin Spines in Pufferfishes". iScience. 19: 1248–1259. Bibcode:2019iSci...19.1248S. doi:10.1016/j.isci.2019.06.003. PMC   6831732 . PMID   31353167.
  16. 1 2 Lin, W.-F.; Hwang, D.-F. (1 January 2012). "Analysis of Poisoning Cases, Monitoring and Risk Warning for Marine Toxins (TTX, PSP and CTXs) in Taiwan". 藥物食品分析. 20 (4): 763–771. doi:10.6227/jfda.2012200404 . Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  17. ↑ "Tetrodotoxin: Biotoxin | NIOSH | CDC". www.cdc.gov. 25 May 2023. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  18. ↑ Based on the following sources:
  19. ↑ Schäfer, Frank (2005). Brackish-water Fishes: All about Species, Care and Breeding. A.C.S. p. 34. ISBN   9783936027822.
  20. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Doi, Hiroyuki; Sakai, Harumi; Yamanoue, Yusuke; Sonoyama, Takayuki; Ishibashi, Toshiaki (March 2015). "Spawning of eight Southeast Asian brackish and freshwater puffers of the genera Tetraodon and Carinotetraodon in captivity". Fisheries Science. 81 (2): 291–299. Bibcode:2015FisSc..81..291D. doi:10.1007/s12562-014-0842-7. S2CID   255616157.
  21. ↑ Reid, Klaus (2004). Global Register of Migratory Species: From Global to Regional Scales : Final Report of the R&D-Projekt 808 05 081. Federal Agency for Nature Conservation. p. 308. ISBN   9783784338453.
  22. ↑ Gopalakrishnan, Omkar; Riede, Klaus (2004). Some observations on fish migration, with emphasis on tropical waters (Report). Federal Agency for Nature Conservation. doi:10.13140/RG.2.1.5099.0969 . Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 Prasad, G.; Sabu, K.; Prathibhakumari, P.V. (2012). "The first report of the Malabar puffer, Carinotetraodon travancoricus (Hora & Nair, 1941) from the Neyyar wildlife sanctuary with a note on its feeding habit and length-weight relationship" (PDF). Journal on New Biological Reports. 1 (2): 42–46. ISSN   2319-1104. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 July 2020. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  24. 1 2 Easa, P.S.; Basha, C.C. (1995). "A Survey on the Habitat and Distribution of Stream Fishes in the Kerala part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve" (PDF). Kerala Forest Research Report. 104. Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  25. 1 2 3 Anupama, K.M.; Harikrishnan, M. (2015). "Improved survival of Malabar puffer fish, Carinotetraodon travancoricus (Hora and Nair, 1941) in planted aquaria". International Journal of Environmental Sciences. 6 (1): 138–144. doi:10.6088/ijes.6016 (inactive 12 September 2024). ISSN   0976-4402.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of September 2024 (link)
  26. ↑ Devi, K.R.; Indra, T.J.; Emiliyamma, K. J. (1996). "On the Fish Collections from Kerala, Deposited in Southern Regional Station, Zoological Survey of India by NRM Stockholm" (PDF). Records of Zoological Survey of India. 95: 3–4. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  27. ↑ Bijukumar, A.; Philip, Siby; Ali, Anvar; Sushama, S.; Raghavan, Rajeev (26 November 2013). "Fishes of River Bharathapuzha, Kerala, India: diversity, distribution, threats and conservation". Journal of Threatened Taxa. 5 (15): 4979–4993. doi: 10.11609/JoTT.o3640.4979-93 .
  28. ↑ Easa, P.S.; Shaji, C.P. (1997). "Freshwater fish diversity in Kera a part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve" (PDF). Current Science. 73 (2): 180–182.
  29. 1 2 3 4 Biju, C.R., C.R.; Thomas, R.K.; Ajithkumar, C.R.; George, M.J. (1999). "Occurrence of Tetraodon travancoricus (Hora and Nair) in the Chalakudy, Periyar and Kechery rivers, Kerala". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 96 (1): 161. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  30. 1 2 Gopi, K.C.; Radhakrishnan, C. (2007). "Waterbird-Mediated Chance-Dispersal of Fishes: A Natural Process of Affecting Range of Distribution and Biogeography of Fishes" (PDF). Records of the Zoological Survey of India. 108 (1): 19–31. doi:10.26515/rzsi/v107/i1/2007/159160. S2CID   201600208 . Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  31. 1 2 Dahanukar, Neelesh; Raut, Rupesh; Bhat, Anuradha (22 December 2003). "Distribution, endemism and threat status of freshwater fishes in the Western Ghats of India" (PDF). Journal of Biogeography. 31: 123–136. doi:10.1046/j.0305-0270.2003.01016.x. S2CID   83574801.
  32. ↑ Thomas, K.; George, M.; Biju, C. (April 2002). "Freshwater Fishes of Southern Kerala with Notes on the Distribution of Endemic and Endangered Species". Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society. 99 (1): 47–53. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  33. ↑ Raghavan, R.; Prasad, G.; Ali, A.P.H.; Pereira, B. (2008). "Fish fauna of Chalakudy River, part of Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot, Kerala, India: patterns of distribution, threats and conservation needs". Biodiversity and Conservation. 17 (13): 3119–3131. Bibcode:2008BiCon..17.3119R. doi:10.1007/s10531-007-9293-0. S2CID   7563806.
  34. ↑ Kurup, B.M.; Manojkumar, T.G. (2010). "Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute". Indian Journal of Fisheries. 57 (1). India: Central Marine Fisheries Research Institute: 81–85. ISSN   0970-6011.
  35. 1 2 3 4 Renjithkumar, C.R.; Roshni, K.; Ranjeet, K. (24 September 2020). "Feeding ecology of the endemic freshwater puffer fish Carinotetradon travancoricus (Hora & Nair, 1941) in Western Ghats hotspot, India". International Journal of Aquatic Biology. 8 (5): 300–310. doi:10.22034/ijab.v8i5.922.
  36. ↑ Schäfer, Frank (20 November 2020). "Carinotetraodon travancoricus". www.aquariumglaser.de. Aquarium Glaser GmbH. Archived from the original on 14 October 2023. Retrieved 14 October 2023.
  37. ↑ Monks, Neale (December 2007). "In Search of the Peaceful Puffer". tfhmagazine.com. TFH Magazine . Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  38. ↑ Pagnussat, Natália; Piato, Angelo L.; Schaefer, Isabel C.; Blank, Martina; Tamborski, Angélica R.; Guerim, Laura D.; Bonan, Carla D.; Vianna, Mônica R.M.; Lara, Diogo R. (September 2013). "One for All and All for One: The Importance of Shoaling on Behavioral and Stress Responses in Zebrafish". Zebrafish. 10 (3): 338–342. doi:10.1089/zeb.2013.0867. PMID   23802189.
  39. ↑ Coral fish stress out if separated from 'shoal-mates'. Manila Bulletin Publishing Corp. 22 September 2016. Retrieved 13 May 2022.
  40. 1 2 Anupama, K.M.; Hari Sankar, H.S.; Rithin Raj, M.; Harikrishnan, M. (July 2019). "Reproductive Biology of Malabar Pufferfish Carinotetraodon travancoricus (Tetraodontidae)". Journal of Ichthyology. 59 (4): 545–554. Bibcode:2019JIch...59..545A. doi:10.1134/S0032945219040027. ISSN   0032-9452. S2CID   201714471 . Retrieved 6 May 2022.
  41. 1 2 Ralph, Chris (2003). Practical Fishkeeping: Pufferfish. Ringpress. p. 61. ISBN   1-86054-233-6.
  42. ↑ Ponniah, A.G.; Gopalakrishnan, A. (2000). Endemic fish diversity of Western Ghats (PDF). Lucknow, India: National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources. pp. 13–32. ISBN   81-901014-2-0 . Retrieved 5 May 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.