porcupinefish
Puffing ocean hedgehog
A porcupinefish is a tropical marine fish covered with sharp spines that project outward when the fish inflates its body—a defense mechanism that makes it difficult for predators to swallow.
Related to pufferfish, porcupinefish have this same ability to gulp water and balloon to several times their normal size.
We saw a porcupinefish puff up when the diver got too close.
Stiff, pointed projections
- quillsHollow defensive animal spikes
- scalesPlates or weighing devices
- gillsAquatic respiratory organs
- finsSwimming appendages
beak · swim bladder · eyes · skin · body · tail · mouth · dorsal fin
Fish that inflates defensively
- globefishFish that inflates
- speciesFinest taxonomic rank
- ichthyologyScientific study of piscine life
Capable of causing death
- venomousProducing injected toxins
- neurotoxinPoison attacking neural tissue
- liverAbdominal detoxifying organ
- ovariesEgg-producing organs
lethal · hazardous · fugu · Japanese cuisine · delicacy
Sustained price level increase
- puffing upInflating or expanding
- deterrentThing that discourages action
- warningAlert about danger
- intimidationDeliberate fear-inducing pressure
Spiny spherical marine invertebrates
- mollusksSoft-bodied invertebrates, often shelled
- crustaceansExoskeleton-bearing aquatic arthropods
- shellfishAquatic creatures with exoskeletons
- snailsShelled terrestrial gastropods
hermit crabs · clams · mussels · coral · algae · invertebrates
Calcium carbonate marine ecosystem
- tropical watersSeas near the equator
- Indo-PacificCombined ocean region
- CaribbeanTropical Atlantic region
- AtlanticOcean bordering Europe
lagoon · seagrass beds · rocky outcrops · shallow waters · warm seas · coastal · benthic · marine
Active during darkness
- solitaryExisting alone, apart
- slow swimmerOne who swims leisurely
- foragingSeeking wild food sources
- hidingStaying out of sight
spines
Stiff, pointed projections
fins · beak · swim bladder · eyes · skin · body · tail · mouth · dorsal fin · pectoral fins
balloonfish
Fish that inflates defensively
- globefishFish that inflates
- speciesFinest taxonomic rank
- ichthyologyScientific study of piscine life
poisonous
Capable of causing death
- venomousProducing injected toxins
- neurotoxinPoison attacking neural tissue
- liverAbdominal detoxifying organ
ovaries · lethal · hazardous · fugu · Japanese cuisine · delicacy
inflation
Sustained price level increase
- puffing upInflating or expanding
- deterrentThing that discourages action
- warningAlert about danger
intimidation · armor · protection · survival · startle response
sea urchins
Spiny spherical marine invertebrates
- mollusksSoft-bodied invertebrates, often shelled
- crustaceansExoskeleton-bearing aquatic arthropods
- shellfishAquatic creatures with exoskeletons
snails · hermit crabs · clams · mussels · coral · algae · invertebrates
coral reef
Calcium carbonate marine ecosystem
- tropical watersSeas near the equator
- Indo-PacificCombined ocean region
- CaribbeanTropical Atlantic region
Atlantic · lagoon · seagrass beds · rocky outcrops · shallow waters · warm seas · coastal · benthic · marine · saltwater
nocturnal
Active during darkness
- solitaryExisting alone, apart
- slow swimmerOne who swims leisurely
- foragingSeeking wild food sources
hiding · burrowing · territorial · curious · bottom feeding
- Porcupinefishballoonfish
- fishcod, salmon, bass, perch, eels
- spiny animalshedgehog, echidna, sea urchin, spiny anteater
- Caribbean fishbarracuda, grouper, snapper, parrotfish, angelfish
- pufferfishpuffer, fugu, balloonfish, globefish, swellfish
- venomous fishlionfish, stonefish, scorpionfish, toadfish, stargazer
porcupinefishflying fish
Marine glider with fins
barracuda · tuna · seahorse · flounder · pufferfish
fish, porcupine, spine, puff up, blowfish, pufferfish, piscine