Map puffer

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Map puffer
Arothron mappa.JPG
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Tetraodontiformes
Family: Tetraodontidae
Genus: Arothron
Species:
A. mappa
Binomial name
Arothron mappa
(Lesson, 1831)

The map puffer (Arothron mappa), also known as the map pufferfish, scribbled pufferfish, or Kesho-fugu, [2] 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. [3] 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. [4] [5]

Contents

Description

Arothron mappa is a medium-sized fish which grows up to 65 cm length. [6] Its body is oval shape, spherical yet relatively elongated. The skin is not covered with scales, rather, the majority of the map puffer’s body is covered with small dermal spines with the exception of areas around the mouth, pectoral fin base, and caudal fin base. [7]

The fish has no pelvic fin and no lateral line. The dorsal fin and the anal fin are small, symmetric and located at the end of the body. Its snout is short with two pairs of nostrils and its mouth contains four strong teeth which have fused into an edged beak. [8] These teeth continue to grow throughout A. mappa's entire life, and must be constantly dulled by consuming hard-shelled prey. [4]

The background coloration is whitish with dense network of black, brown or greenish broken lines, with an irradiant line departure from the eye. Depending on specimen, some dark or yellowish blotches can occur around the mouth, the symmetrical anus, on the fins or anywhere on the body.

Map puffer displaying teeth and markings Map puffer photo bomb, lorenzo's delight, wakatobi, 2018 (31942441308).jpg
Map puffer displaying teeth and markings

Distribution and habitat

Arothron mappa is found in tropical and subtropical waters from the Indian Ocean to the western Pacific Ocean. [3] Adults can be found along both deep drop-offs and clear lagoon and sheltered reefs from the surface to 30 m depth. [2] [6] Juveniles can be found on seagrass beds. [2]

Diet

Arothron mappa feeds on benthic invertebrates, crustaceans, sponges and algaes. [3]

Behavior

This pufferfish is diurnal and exhibits solitary behavior. [8]

Map puffer exhibiting solitary behavior in a barrel sponge Tubbataha- wall street- map puffer in coral.jpg
Map puffer exhibiting solitary behavior in a barrel sponge

Reproduction

Courting begins when an A. mappa male constructs a large flattened circle in a substrate by using its fins to dig and stir up sand particles. [4] The male will then dig geometric valleys and ridges within the circle to create a complex and geometric maze-like pattern. [9] This acts as both a mating display to attract females and a nesting site for eggs to be laid. [9] When a female A. mappa approaches a nest, the male will swim around and stir the sand to draw the female's attention. If the courtship ritual is successful, the female will enter the nest and release her eggs, which the male then fertilizes. Fertilized eggs will remain and develop within the nest until they hatch into a planktonic larval stage. [4]

Defense

Arothron mappa contains tetrodotoxin - an extremely toxic sodium channel blocker which protects it from predators. A. mappa do not manufacture the tetrodotoxin compound themselves, rather, it is produced by endosymbiotic bacteria within the pufferfish that is passed down through the food chain. [10]

Parasitism

Several invertebrate species are known to parasitize Arothron mappa and other Tetraodontiforme fishes. The Aporocotylidae species of Psettarium yoshidai is found exclusively in the map puffer, [11] and two nematode species in the genus Philometra (Philometra robusta [12] and Philometra pellucida [13] ) can be found in the map puffer and other Tetraodontiformes. Aforementioned Philometra species cause severe swelling and distention of the gut in Tetraodontiformes. Cases of extreme infection and bloating caused by Philometra in an individual pufferfish can result in their rapid ascension to surface waters and consequent predation due to lack of shelter and mobility. [12]

As food

Despite containing tetrodotoxin, several species of pufferfish in the family Tetraodontidae are considered delicacies in Japan. [14] Studies have shown that the map puffer’s flesh can be safely consumed by humans. [5] The skin, liver, gonads, and intestines of the map puffer should not be consumed, as they contain high concentrations of the tetrodotoxin. [5] Specialized training is required to prepare a puffer fish containing tetrodotoxin for consumption, as to not contaminate the edible flesh with tetrodotoxin contained within the fish’s skin and organs. However, pufferfish raised on fish farms in Japan which are fed a controlled diet are no longer toxic for human consumption, even the fish’s liver can be eaten as foie gras without any harmful effects. [15]

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. 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tetrodotoxin</span> Neurotoxin

Tetrodotoxin (TTX) is a potent neurotoxin. Its name derives from Tetraodontiformes, an order that includes pufferfish, porcupinefish, ocean sunfish, and triggerfish; several of these species carry the toxin. Although tetrodotoxin was discovered in these fish and found in several other animals, it is actually produced by certain infecting or symbiotic bacteria like Pseudoalteromonas, Pseudomonas, and Vibrio as well as other species found in animals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fugu</span> Various species of pufferfish

The fugu in Japanese, bogeo or bok (복) in Korean, and hétún in Standard Modern Chinese is a pufferfish, normally of the genus Takifugu, Lagocephalus, or Sphoeroides, or a porcupinefish of the genus Diodon, or a dish prepared from these fish.

<i>Takifugu</i> Genus of fishes

Takifugu is a genus of pufferfish, often better known by the Japanese name fugu. There are 25 species belonging to the genus Takifugu and most of these are native to salt and brackish waters of the northwest Pacific, but a few species are found in freshwater of Asia or more widely in the Indo-Pacific region. Their diet consists mostly of algae, molluscs, invertebrates and sometimes crustaceans. The fish defend themselves by inflating their bodies to several times normal size and by poisoning their predators. These defenses allow the fish to actively explore their environment without much fear of being attacked.

<i>Arothron</i> Genus of fishes

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.

<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.

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

The blackspotted puffer, also known as the dog-faced puffer, is a tropical marine fish belonging to the family Tetraodontidae.

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

The masked puffer is a pufferfish in the family Tetraodontidae.

<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>Reicheltia halsteadi</i> Species of fish

Reicheltia halsteadi, Halstead's toadfish, is a species of pufferfish endemic to Australia. This species grows to a length of 16 centimetres (6.3 in) TL. This species is the only known member of its genus.

<i>Canthigaster rostrata</i> Species of fish

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.

<i>Arothron meleagris</i> Species of fish

Arothron meleagris, commonly known as the guineafowl puffer or golden puffer, is a pufferfish from the Indo-Pacific, and Eastern Pacific. It is occasionally harvested for the aquarium trade. It reaches 50 cm in length.

<i>Arothron immaculatus</i> Species of fish

Arothron immaculatus, the immaculate puffer or yellow-eyed puffer, is a pale greyish to brownish pufferfish from the Indo-West Pacific. It is a species of marine fish in the family Tetraodontidae.

<i>Arothron stellatus</i> Species of fish

Arothron stellatus, also known as the stellate puffer, starry puffer, starry pufferfish, or starry toadfish, is a demersal marine fish belonging to the family Tetraodontidae. It is found in shallow water in the Indo-Pacific region.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smooth toadfish</span> Species of fish

The smooth toadfish is a species of fish in the pufferfish family Tetraodontidae. It is native to shallow coastal and estuarine waters of southeastern Australia, where it is widespread and abundant. French naturalist Christophe-Paulin de La Poix de Fréminville described the species in 1813, though early records confused it with its close relative, the common toadfish. The two are the only members of the genus Tetractenos after going through several taxonomic changes since discovery.

<i>Arothron caeruleopunctatus</i> Species of fish

Arothron caeruleopunctatus, also known as the blue-spotted pufferfish, is a demersal marine fish belonging to the family Tetraodontidae.

<i>Lagocephalus sceleratus</i> Species of fish

Lagocephalus sceleratus, commonly known as the silver-cheeked toadfish, or Sennin-fugu, is an extremely poisonous marine bony fish in the family Tetraodontidae.

<i>Torquigener pleurogramma</i> Species of fish

Torquigener pleurogramma, commonly known as the weeping toadfish or blowie, is a species of fish in the family Tetraodontidae. It is found in the coastal waters of Australia. Its flesh is highly toxic.

<i>Arothron reticularis</i> Species of fish

Arothron reticularis, variously known as the reticulated pufferfish, reticulated blowfish or reticulated toadfish, is a ray-finned fish in the family Tetraodontidae. It is native to the tropical and sub-tropical Indo-Pacific region where its habitats include sandy and muddy seabeds, coral reefs, estuaries and mangrove areas.

Arothron multilineatus, the multilined pufferfish, is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Tetraodontidae. It is an uncommon fish and is known only from four specimens from Pagbilao in the Philippines, although photographs of individuals in the Ryukyu Islands, Mozambique and the Red Sea show that it has a wide distribution. It was first described by the Japanese ichthyologist Keiichi Matsuura in 2016.

References

  1. ↑ Shao, K.; Matsuura, K.; Leis, J.L.; Hardy, G.; Jing, L.; Liu, M.; Sanciangco, J. (2014). "Arothron mappa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2014: e.T193671A2257989. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T193671A2257989.en . Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 "Map puffer". Maldives Bio Diversity. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  3. 1 2 3 "Map Blaasop: Arothron mappa (Lesson 1831)". EOL. Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Sutton A (2017-07-30). "Map Pufferfish – Facts and Photographs". Seaunseen. Retrieved 2021-04-21.
  5. 1 2 3 Khora SS, Isa J, Yasumoto T (1991). "Toxicity of puffers from Okinawa, Japan". Nippon Suisan Gakkaishi. 57 (1): 163–167. doi: 10.2331/suisan.57.163 . ISSN   1349-998X.
  6. 1 2 Capuli EE, Bailly N. "Arothron mappa (Lesson 1831) Map puffer". FishBase.
  7. ↑ Matsuura K, Toda M (7 October 1980). "First Records of Two Pufferfishes, Arothron mappa and A.reticularis, from Japan". Japanese Journal of Ichthyology. 28 (1): 91–93. doi:10.11369/jji1950.28.91 – via J-Stage.
  8. 1 2 Lieske E, Myers R (2002). Coral reef fishes. Indo-Pacific and Caribbean (Rev. ed.). Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press. ISBN   978-0-691-08995-9.
  9. 1 2 Kawase H, Okata Y, Ito K (2013-07-01). "Role of huge geometric circular structures in the reproduction of a marine pufferfish". Scientific Reports. 3 (1): 2106. Bibcode:2013NatSR...3E2106K. doi:10.1038/srep02106. PMC   3696902 . PMID   23811799.
  10. ↑ Lago, Jorge; Rodríguez, Laura P.; Blanco, Lucía; Vieites, Juan Manuel; Cabado, Ana G. (October 2015). "Tetrodotoxin, an Extremely Potent Marine Neurotoxin: Distribution, Toxicity, Origin and Therapeutical Uses". Marine Drugs. 13 (10): 6384–6406. doi: 10.3390/md13106384 . PMC   4626696 . PMID   26492253.
  11. ↑ Yong RQ, Cutmore SC, Jones MK, Gauthier AR, Cribb TH (June 2018). "A complex of the blood fluke genus Psettarium (Digenea: Aporocotylidae) infecting tetraodontiform fishes of east Queensland waters" (PDF). Parasitology International. 67 (3): 321–340. doi:10.1016/j.parint.2017.12.003. PMID   29277472. S2CID   207315019.
  12. 1 2 Moravec F, Moller H, Heeger T (2013). "Philometra-Robusta Sp-N (Nematoda, Philometridae) From the Abdominal-Cavity of the Scribbled Toadfish, Arothron-Mappa (Lesson) From the Philippines". S2CID   90951626 . Retrieved 2021-04-09.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  13. ↑ Iwaki T, Tamai K, Ogimoto K, Iwahashi Y, Waki T, Kawano F, Ogawa K (October 2020). "New records of Philometra pellucida (Jägerskiöld, 1893) (Nematoda: Philometridae) from the body cavity of Arothron mappa (Lesson) and Arothron nigropunctatus (Bloch et Schneider) reared in aquariums, with synonymisation of Philometra robusta Moravec, Möller et Heeger, 1992". Folia Parasitologica. 67. doi: 10.14411/fp.2020.025 . PMID   33043892.
  14. ↑ Ishizaki S, Yokoyama Y, Oshiro N, Teruya N, Nagashima Y, Shiomi K, Watabe S (March 2006). "Molecular identification of pufferfish species using PCR amplification and restriction analysis of a segment of the 16S rRNA gene". Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part D, Genomics & Proteomics. 1 (1): 139–44. doi:10.1016/j.cbd.2005.09.004. PMID   20483244.
  15. ↑ Onishi, Norimitsu (2008-05-04). "If the Fish Liver Can't Kill, Is It Really a Delicacy?". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved 2021-04-22.
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