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Spiny Pufferfish Jaw
Dorsal view of the upper jaw of a Spiny Pufferfish found by K. Davey on the beach at Old Bar, near Taree, New South Wales, May 2003, (AMS I.42810-001). View larger image.
The upper two images were sent to us for identification in May 2003 by K. Davey of the Environment Centre, Wingham Brush Primary School. The bone was found on the beach at Old Bar, near Taree, New South Wales.
The bone is the upper jaw of a Spiny Pufferfish or Porcupinefish.
The following seven species of Spiny Pufferfishes occur in New South Wales waters.
- Australian Burrfish, Allomycterus pilatus
- Spotfin Burrfish, Chilomycterus reticulatus
- Birdbeak Burrfish, Cyclichthys orbicularis
- Three-bar Porcupinefish, Dicotylichthys punctulatus
- Freckled Porcupinefish, Diodon holocanthus
- Black-spotted Porcupinefish, Diodon hystrix
- Globe Fish, Diodon nicthemerus
Spiny Pufferfishes have the teeth in both jaws fused into a parrot-like "beak". The family name Diodontidae literally means "two teeth".
Diodontids use these fused teeth and crushing plates on the roof of the mouth to crush hard-bodied prey such as molluscs and sea urchins.
As the common name suggests, Spiny Pufferfishes are covered in spines. They can inflate their bodies into a ball-shape by swallowing water. The bottom image shows a Fine-spotted Porcupinefish inflated with water. This species has erectile spines. View the FAQ sheet on how often a pufferfish can inflate.
View page on a polished Spiny Pufferfish palate found at Groote Eyland, Northern Territory.
