pufferfish
Spiny balloon fish
A pufferfish is a fish that inflates itself into a spiny ball when threatened, deterring predators.
Many species contain tetrodotoxin, a potent poison—yet pufferfish is considered a delicacy in Japan (as fugu), where specially licensed chefs prepare it to avoid the toxic organs.
The pufferfish puffed up the moment I touched the tank.
Fish that inflates
- fuguToxic pufferfish cuisine
- balloonfishFish that inflates defensively
- porcupinefishInflatable spiny marine fish
- cowfishHorned, box-shaped marine fish
Toxic pufferfish cuisine
- sashimiThinly sliced raw fish
- sushiVinegared rice with toppings
- chefProfessional kitchen leader
- licenseFormal grant of permission
Japanese · delicacy · preparation · luxury · gourmet · umami · kaiseki · restaurant
Fill with gas
- spinesStiff, pointed projections
- predatorOrganism that consumes others
- threatIndication of potential harm
- deterPrevent through intimidation
survival · protection · warning · startle · prey · escape · behavior · instinct
Harmful ingested substance
- neurotoxinPoison attacking neural tissue
- lethalCausing or capable of death
- paralysisLoss of muscle function
- venomInjected animal poison
fatal · toxicology · antidote · poisonous · deadly · biotoxin · liver · ovaries
globefish
Fish that inflates
- fuguToxic pufferfish cuisine
- balloonfishFish that inflates defensively
- porcupinefishInflatable spiny marine fish
fugu
Toxic pufferfish cuisine
license · Japanese · delicacy · preparation · luxury · gourmet · umami · kaiseki · restaurant · expensive
inflate
Fill with gas
bloat · distend · spines · fins · gills · scales · beak · teeth · bladder · engorge
inflate
Fill with gas
- spinesStiff, pointed projections
- predatorOrganism that consumes others
- threatIndication of potential harm
deter · survival · protection · warning · startle · prey · escape · behavior · instinct · adaptation
poison
Harmful ingested substance
- neurotoxinPoison attacking neural tissue
- lethalCausing or capable of death
- paralysisLoss of muscle function
venom · fatal · toxicology · antidote · poisonous · deadly · biotoxin · liver · ovaries · contamination
reef
Underwater rock or coral formation
coral · aquatic · Indo-Pacific · Japan · habitat · currents · seagrass · coastal · lagoon · estuary
tank
Large storage vessel
- ornamentalFor beauty, not function
- exoticStrikingly unusual, foreign-seeming
- petDomesticated household companion
tropical · freshwater · brackish · captive · hobbyist · imported · colorful · care · feeding · species
- aquarium lifegoldfish, betta, guppy, neon tetra, angelfish
- tropical fishclownfish, angelfish, butterflyfish, parrotfish, triggerfish
- pufferfishfugu, balloonfish, globefish, swellfish
- fishcod, salmon, bass, perch, eels
- marine lifeshark, sea turtles, manatees, whale, dolphins
- ocean lifeocean, sea, sea creatures, shark, sea life
pufferfishflatfish
Asymmetrical seafloor swimmer
flounder · chameleon · octopus · cuttlefish · stick insect