Marine Life

Pelagic pufferfish

Raagondi koli

Lagocephalus lagocephalus

Although Lagocephalus lagocephalus is not common in the Maldives, it is occasionally caught alongside frigate tuna (Auxis thazard). Previously recorded under the family Lagocephalidae in the Catalogue of Fishes of the Maldives, Vol. 1, page 86, this highly poisonous fish is thought to have been responsible for some cases of fatal fish poisoning in the Maldives in the past.

Details

§ 01

size: Max. 60 cm
color: Adults dark green, brownish grey, or blue dorsally, white below. Juveniles to about 18 cm have about 9 uniform bars on back from eye to dorsal fin; dark spots on front and middle of belly and on side near pectoral base in fish less than 33 cm.
order: Tetraodontiformes
family: Tetraodontidae
image url: https://assets.explore.mv/fishes/lagocephalus-lagocephalus.png
habitat and biology: Occasionally venturing close to reefs, but mainly inhabiting pelagic and oceanic waters.
distinctive characters: The dorsal fin has 13-15 rays, the anal fin has 11-13 rays, and the pectoral fin has 13-16 rays. The body is smooth, except for well-developed spinules on the belly from the chin to the anus. In adults, the lower caudal fin lobe is longer than the upper, and the caudal fin is emarginate.