Shorefishes of the Eastern Pacific online information system

Español  Contact



  • spines few, short, immovable, 1-2 atop tail base
    head, body & fins: black spots
    juv: blue, spots larger & sparser
    Chilomycterus reticulatus, Spotfin burrfish
  • short, immovable spines
    fins without spots
    tail base without spines
    Cyclichthys spilostylus, Yellow-spotted burrfish, Spotbase burrfish
  • body blue + spots
    D & A angular
    body & fins: many spots
    Diodon eydouxii, Pelagic porcupinefish
    snout spines < body spines
    top tail base: 2+ spines
    many large erectile spines
  • snout spines > body spines
    tail base: without spines
    many large erectile spines
    body blotches + few spots
    dark bar through eye
    fins - no spots
    Diodon holocanthus, Long-spine balloonfish, Freckled porcupinefish
  • snout spines < body spines
    tail base: 1-2 spines
    many large erectile spines
    D & A rounded
    body & fins spotted
    Diodon hystrix, Spotfin porcupinefish