Species: Diodon hystrix, Porcupinefish, Spot-fin Porcupinefish

Diodon hystrix Linnaeus, 1758

Porcupinefish, Spot-fin Porcupinefish

Body robust, inflatable; head wide and blunt; no barbells on chin; eyes large; nasal organ a flat short tentacle with 2 openings; teeth fused into a strong, parrot-like beak with two plates that lack a front groove, large, opens widely at front; gill opening a vertical slit before pectoral base; pectorals large; fins without spines; no pelvic fins; dorsal fin 15-17; anal rays 14-16; dorsal and anal fins rounded; pectoral rays 22-25 (rarely 21); body and head covered with numerous long (> eye), erectible, 2-rooted, slender, round spines; 16-20 erectile spines in an approximate row from top of snout to dorsal fin; 14-19 spines between lower jaw and anus; spines anteriorly at front of head shorter than longest spines posterior to pectoral fins; 1-2 small spines dorsally on tail base.

Light grey brown dorsally shading to white ventrally; upper body and dorsal, anal and tail fins with small black spots; body without large dark blotches.

Maximum length: 91 cm.

Adults inhabits coral or rocky reefs, juveniles occur in estuaries.

Depth: 1-137 m.

Circumtropical distribution; Maine to Brazil.