Green pufferfish
Species of fish
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The green pufferfish or Ceylon pufferfish (Dichotomyctere fluviatilis) is a species of pufferfish found in South and Southeast Asia.[3][4] Its habitat includes rivers, estuaries, lakes and flood plains, and it lives in fresh to slightly brackish water.
| Green pufferfish | |
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Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Division: | Teleostei |
| Order: | Tetraodontiformes |
| Family: | Tetraodontidae |
| Genus: | Dichotomyctere |
| Species: | D. fluviatilis |
| Binomial name | |
| Dichotomyctere fluviatilis (Hamilton, 1822) | |
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| Synonyms[2] | |
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Arothron dorsovittatus Blyth, 1860
Chelonodon fluviatilis (Hamilton, 1822)
Dichotomycterus rangoonensis Le Danois, 1959 | |
Description
The green pufferfish grows up to 17 cm (6.7 in) TL,[3] with a white underbelly and a metallic yellow or green top covered in black spots. Its bulging eyes are of a metallic blue color, and it has a very thick and broad forehead. Its body usually has a leathery texture, but green pufferfish grown in captivity tend to have smoother skin. Its flesh contains a virulent toxin, and it should not be eaten.[citation needed]
Diet
The green pufferfish is primarily carnivorous, eating mollusks, crustaceans (the shells of which this species can crush with its beak) and invertebrates. Occasionally, algae and plant matter, as well as fish scales and other detritus, is consumed.[5] In captivity, it will eat vegetation and commercial fish food.[citation needed]
