Chelonodon pleurospilus

(Regan, 1919)

Vernacular names
English : Blaasop beauty
French : Chelonodon pleurospilus

Classification
Class : Teleostei
Order : Tetraodontiformes
Family : Tetraodontidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Elongated barrel-shaped body, large red eyes. Unmistakable. Flanks and back light brown with clear blue lines forming blotches. Underside white spotted with black and brown.

Range and habitat
Western Indian Ocean, along South-African coasts from Xora river mouth to Durban. Occurs in very shallow sea water near coasts.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : ENDANGERED
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species has a very small range and its habitat is being rapidly destroyed by the industrialization of South-African coasts. No conservation programs are in place at this time.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

Back to “Puffers and relatives” page