Diodon liturosus (Black-blotched porcupinefish)
Diodon liturosus is a bulky fish with beige to brown color, covered in dark brown to black blotches with white edges on its back and around the eye. It has short, movable spines across its body.
Unassessed by the IUCN Red list. Fairly common in the Asian Pacific.
Indo-Pacific: from the Eastern Africa coast to the Society Islands, north to southern Japan, south to New South Wales. Not present in Hawaii. And from Southeast Atlantic: southeast coast of South Africa. They Inhabit reef edges and slopes, hide in caves and ledges during the day and come out to forage at night. Also found below plate-corals during the day and often deep, in a depth range of 6-40 meters. Juveniles are found more in shallow lagoons and estuaries.
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Up to 50 cm.
Diodon liturosus feeds on hard-shelled crustaceans and mollusks.
Porcupinefish are nocturnal, so they can be seen in caves are below plate corals during the day. They are said to be poisonous.
