Sharpnose Puffer

ID points

• Long pointed snout; slimmer than an ordinary puffer
• Sides densely covered in fine blue dots and lines
• Very small; usually hovers alone over the reef

Basics

Family

Tetraodontidae

Length

7–12 cm

Depth

1-30 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs

Distribution

Tropical coral reefs from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific

Habitat

Shallow tropical coral reefs

Diet

Sponges, algae, crustaceans

Easily confused with

Blackspotted PufferSparse large black spots on a grey-blue or yellow groundGuineafowl PufferInk-black body covered in dense, even white spotsPufferfishSwells into a ball with water when alarmed, pushing out short spines

Fun fact

The sharpnose puffer is only about 8-10 cm long, and its pointed snout pokes precisely into reef crevices to pick out coral polyps and small invertebrates. In danger it takes in seawater until it is a ball, raising its fin spines at the same time to put an attacker off. Its skin is covered in bright markings, and it is often seen in pairs over the reef.