Description:-

Light olive to pale brown, shading to white ventrally; small black spots on upper two-thirds of head and body; a brown bar from above to below eye; a broad brown bar across occipital region and another across middle of back; a large oval brown blotch above each pectoral fin and another around dorsal-fin base; fins plain.Tan teardrop-shaped body with brown blotches and black spots over entire length. Long spines (typically seen lowered) are found over entire body surface, starting at the forehead. Eyes are large and pronounced with yellow irises. Iridescent blue-green specks may be seen within pupil. Brown band runs over forehead, from eye to eye. Fins are clear. Rounded caudal fin. The body is covered in long, sharp spines that stick out when the fish inflates. The balloonfish inflates by taking water into its body when it is threatened. All members of the family Diodontidae are capable of inflation. Along with inflation, there may also be a color change due to the excitement. Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 15; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 13 - 15. Pelagic juveniles with spots, particularly prominent on belly; adults with dark blotches across back and spots between the blotches; fins without spots (Ref. 4423). 14 to 16 spines in an approximate row between snout and origin of dorsal fin; with a large brown bar above and below each eye; a broad transverse brown bar on occipital region of head

Threats:-

Reports of ciguatera poisoning

Remark:-

Habitat:-

2-100 meters in tropical & sub-tropical marine coastal waters. Adult balloonfishes occur on shallow reefs amongst mangroves and in open bottom areas including seagrass beds and rocky substrates. Reef-associated; marine

Synonyms:-

Diodon maculifer Kaup, 1855

Diodon pilosus Mitchill, 1815

Trichodiodon pilosus (Mitchill, 1815)

References:-