balloonfish
Spiny inflatable fish
A balloonfish is a type of porcupinefish—a spiny tropical fish that inflates itself into a ball when threatened.
The name captures this defensive behavior: the fish swells with water to appear larger and make its spines stand out.
Found in warm Atlantic waters, balloonfish are sometimes dried and sold as curios.
Toxic pufferfish cuisine
- delicacyRefined sensitivity or rarity
- sashimiThinly sliced raw fish
- preparationArranging things in advance
- chefProfessional kitchen leader
licensed · Japan · Korea · poisoning · liver · ovaries · lethal · restaurant
Underwater rock or coral formation
- tropicalOf hot, humid regions
- saltwaterOcean water, chemically speaking
- oceanMassive saltwater body
- coralMarine skeletal formation
mangrove · estuary · Indo-Pacific · Caribbean · seagrass · lagoon · shallow · coastal
Stiff, pointed projections
- swimbladderFish buoyancy organ
- gillsAquatic respiratory organs
- finsSwimming appendages
- scalesPlates or weighing devices
beak · teeth · body · skin · eyes · tail · pectoral · dorsal
Sustained price level increase
- puffingLabored breathing, short bursts
- spikesSharp metal protrusions
- toxicCapable of causing harm
- deterrentThing that discourages action
predator · threat · survival · camouflage · protection · evasion · intimidation · warning
fugu
Toxic pufferfish cuisine
- delicacyRefined sensitivity or rarity
- sashimiThinly sliced raw fish
- preparationArranging things in advance
chef · licensed · Japan · Korea · poisoning · liver · ovaries · lethal · restaurant · ban
reef
Underwater rock or coral formation
coral · mangrove · estuary · Indo-Pacific · Caribbean · seagrass · lagoon · shallow · coastal · Atlantic
tank
Large storage vessel
feeding · display · species · hobbyist · saltwater · reef · care · specimens
spines
Stiff, pointed projections
- swimbladderFish buoyancy organ
- gillsAquatic respiratory organs
- finsSwimming appendages
scales · beak · teeth · body · skin · eyes · tail · pectoral · dorsal
inflation
Sustained price level increase
deterrent · predator · threat · survival · camouflage · protection · evasion · intimidation · warning