Species: Sphoeroides greeleyi, Green Puffer

Sphoeroides greeleyi Gilbert, 1900

Green Puffer

Body oblong, thick, inflatable; head blunt; nasal organ on each side a short papilla with 2 small holes at end; eyes high on sides of head; jaws are a strong beak composed of 4 fused heavy powerful teeth with a central suture on each jaw; a slit-like gill opening in front of the pectoral fin base; a single short- based dorsal fin at rear of body; a similar-shaped anal fin with origin under or behind last few dorsal rays; dorsal rays 8, anal rays 7; pectoral 14-15 (rarely 13 or 16); no pelvic fins; no spines in the fins; tail fin edge bluntly straight, with 10 main rays; tough scaleless skin, a few skin flaps usually present on sides; prickles on upper & lower parts of fish from between eyes to behind origin of dorsal fin, & from chin to near anus; a patch of scale-like structures behind pectoral base.

Upper head and body light cream overlaid with smallish dark chocolate blotches of varying sizes and shapes, often formed by clusters of small spots; tail fin vaguely barred.

Size: 17 cm.

Habitat: demersal on soft bottoms.

Depth: 1-30 m.

The NW Caribbean to Brazil.