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Grass puffer

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Kingdom
  
Family
  
Scientific name
  
Takifugu niphobles

Higher classification
  
Takifugu

Genus
  
Takifugu

Phylum
  
Chordata

Rank
  
Species

Grass puffer ffishasiaphotosspP1P728637120130728jpg

Similar
  
Takifugu, Pufferfish, Takifugu poecilonotus, Takifugu pardalis, Takifugu rubripes

Japanese grass pufferfish ready to spawn


The grass puffer (Takifugu niphobles) is a species of fish in the pufferfish family (Tetraodontidae). This common to abundant species is found in the northwest Pacific Ocean in China (including Hong Kong and Taiwan), 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.

Contents

Grass puffer Grass puffer Takifugu niphobles Practical Fishkeeping Magazine

Let s play fishing resort wii grass puffer thamnaconus modestus


Breeding

The grass puffer has a highly unusual breeding behavior where large groups gather seasonally in shallow water along certain beaches during high tide, throw themselves onto land (with the help of an incoming wave) where fertilization occurs, and then return to the water. The fertilized eggs may be swept back to the sea or stay on land under rocks for a period. Such a breeding behavior is not known from any other pufferfish, but is known from the unrelated capelin and grunion.

Relationship with humans

The grass puffer is often caught off beaches, docks, and piers using various baits such as worms, shrimp, sea lice, or cut fish. They are popular for children to catch, but their intestines contain the extremely potent pufferfish poison tetrodotoxin which is potentially lethal to humans. The species is not specifically targeted, but sometimes taken as part of the fugu fishery.

References

Grass puffer Wikipedia