Species · GBIF taxon 2407604
Tiger Puffer
Takifugu rubripesAlso known as Japanese Puffer, Japanese Pufferfish, Torafugu
Tiger puffers are highly recognizable marine fish featuring a dark, mottled pattern of spots and a distinctive black patch behind the pectoral fin. They navigate coastal waters using precise, hovering pectoral fin movements and can rapidly inflate their bodies with water or air when threatened. While famous for containing lethal tetrodotoxin in their internal organs, they are also celebrated in science for having one of the smallest genomes among vertebrates.
MarineToxicBenthic
Licensed referenceOpenCage / CC BY-SA 2.5 · CC BY-SA 2.5
—observations
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—peak records
Near ThreatenedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNear ThreatenedRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Crabs
- Clams
- Sea urchins
Predators
- Sharks
- Large marine mammals
- Humans
ThreatsOverfishing for the luxury culinary market and coastal habitat degradation
HabitatsCoastal marine waters, estuaries, and sandy or muddy sea floors
Life spanUp to 10 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyTetraodontidae
- SpeciesTakifugu rubripes
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Contains lethal tetrodotoxin in internal organs; never consume unless prepared by a licensed chef.
- Why it is dangerous
- Contains tetrodotoxin, a potent neurotoxin concentrated in the liver, ovaries, and skin that can cause fatal paralysis.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for a large black spot ringed in white just behind the pectoral fin and a dark, mottled back.
- What to do
- Never touch or attempt to harvest this fish; leave handling entirely to certified professionals.
Responsible observation
- Observe from a distance: Watch their unique, hovering swimming style in coastal shallows without cornering them.
- Avoid handling: Their skin is covered in tiny prickles that can cause irritation, and stress triggers inflation.
Image unavailableClose Relative Close Relative 
Family Member "흰점꺼끌복, ballon à épaule noire, ballon pintade, bankocho, botete panza rayada, botete pintado, botite, botiti, bouletang gomon, bourse-du-sable, bouvetanne, broadbarred toadfish, buntal, pufferfish, stars and stripes puffer, whitespotted puffer, 紋腹叉鼻魨" by Bruce Deagle is licensed under CC BY 4.0. To · cc-by
Related Family (c) Matteo Cassella, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Matteo Cassella · cc-by-sa
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