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Family: Tetradontidae
Species: Sphoeroides maculatus (Bloch and Schneider, 1801)
Range: coastally from Newfoundland to sourthern Florida.
Habitat: common visitor of Chesapeake Bay from spring to autumn; inhabits channel margins and flats of bays and estuaries; also inhabits deep offshore waters of 60 m (200 ft.) or more.
Food: small crustaceans (crabs, shrimp, isopods, and amphipods).
Meristic counts:
- Dorsal: 8 soft rays
- Anal: 7 soft rays
Characters useful in identification: small spines or prickles present on body (except on caudal peduncle); body elongate, deeper than broad; head long; eye small; mouth small and nearly terminal.
Color: Back greyish-green with black splotches and small black spots; sides yellowish with irregular bars; intense black spots present in pectoral fin axil.
Maximum size: 36 cm TL (14 in.)
Reproduction: spawning occurs from May to August in nearshore waters and estuaries; eggs attach to substrate.
Other interesting tidbits:
- As a defense mechanism, puffers inflate themselves with air or water when handled or threatened.
- While some members of the puffer family of fishes are poisonous, the northern puffer is considered a delicious tasting fish.
References:
Martin, F.D. and George E. Drewry. 1978. Development of fishes of the mid-Atlantic bight, an atlas of egg, larval and juvenile stages. Volume VI, Stromateidae through Ogcocephalidae. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, pp. 1-416.Murdy, E.O., R.S. Birdsong, and J.A. Musick. 1997. Fishes of Chesapeake Bay.Smithsonian Institution Press, 324 pp.
For any comments or suggestions, contact the Fisheries Webmaster (cfb@vims.edu)
Date last modified: 07/13/99