Species: Sphoeroides maculatus, Northern puffer

Sphoeroides maculatus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)

Northern 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 usually 16 (15-17); no pelvic fins; no spines in the fins; tail fin edge slightly convex, with 10 main rays; tough scaleless skin; no skin flaps; body covered with prickles to about level of dorsal and anal fins, prickles on ventral surface extend behind anus.