Spotfin Porcupinefish, Chilomycterus reticulatus (Linnaeus 1758)
Other Names: Few-spined Porcupine-fish, Spotfin Burrfish, Spottedfin Burrfish
A Spotfin Porcupinefish, Chilomycterus reticulatus, in Swansea Channel, New South Wales, September 2018. Source: @gina_mascord / iNaturalist.org. License: CC By Attribution-NonCommercial
Summary:
A pale greyish to brown porcupinefish with small dark widely-spaced spots on the head, body and fins, and four diffuse dusky to brown bars, including from the eye running around the throat. The Spotfin Porcupinefish has short scattered non-movable spines scattered on the body, including one or two spines on the part of the caudal peduncle.
Pelagic juveniles are bluish with dark spots above that extend onto the belly.
Pelagic juveniles are bluish with dark spots above that extend onto the belly.
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2020, Chilomycterus reticulatus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 26 Apr 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/777
Spotfin Porcupinefish, Chilomycterus reticulatus (Linnaeus 1758)
More Info
Distribution |
Broome to Cambridge Gulf , Western Australia, and the far northern Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, to at least Shellharbour, New South Wales; also Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea. Elsewhere, the species is found worldwide in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate seas, usually at depths above 25 m. Inhabits coral and rocky reefs, and associated soft bottom areas. Juveniles are pelagic to about 20 cm SL, and may associate with floating algae. |
Features |
Dorsal fin 12-14; Anal fin 11-14; Caudal fin usually 10. Body spines widely-spaced with 3 or 4 roots and fixed in an erect position; one or 2 small spines wholly on dorsal surface of caudal peduncle; nasal organ of adults an open, ridged cup; no tentacles over eyes. |
Size |
Reaches a maximum total length of about 75 cm. |
Feeding |
Feeds on hard-shelled invertebrates, including large sea urchins.. |
Fisheries |
The species is occasionally taken in trawl fisheries. |
Etymology |
The specific name is from the Latin reticulatus (having a net-like pattern). |
Species Citation |
Diodon reticulatus Linnaeus, 1758, Systema Naturae 1: 334. Type locality: India. |
Author |
Bray, D.J. 2020 |
Resources |