Dogfaced Puffer Fish

Dogfaced Puffer Fish

Description of the Dogfaced Puffer Fish
The Dogfaced Puffer Fish is so called due to the similarity of it's face to that of a dog, it's colouring goes through several changes throught it's life.

Profile of the Dogfaced Puffer Fish
This Profile contains interesting facts and information about the Dogfaced Puffer Fish species.

• Size: 9 inches maximum in captivity.

• Fish Tank conditions: Temperature 78ºF - pH 8.3 - minimum 75 litre tank.

• Diet / Feeding: most live and frozen food.

• Temperament: May act semi-aggressively toward other fish of the same size or smaller.

• Habitat: Marine coral reef environment at a depth from 3 to 25 m.

• Behaviour: Should not be kept with Hard Coral, Starfish or invertebrates - They tend to eat them!.

• Range: Indo-Pacific

Scientific Classification of the Dogfaced Puffer Fish
Definition: Scientific classification, or biological classification, is how biologists group and categorize species of organisms with shared physical characteristics. Scientific classification belongs to the science of taxonomy.

• Species: Arothron Nigropunctatus

• Popular Name: Dogfaced Puffer Fish - Black spotted Puffer - Dog faced Puffer Fish - Dogfaced Pufferfish

• Kingdom: Animalia

• Class: Actinopterygii

• Order: Tetraodontiformes

• Family: Tetraodontidae

Interesting Facts and Information - How do you identify the sex of a Dogfaced Puffer Fish?
The males and females of many fish species have different colors or different shaped bodies. But there are also other fish species where there is no visible difference. Its sometimes tricky being an ichthyologist!

Interesting Facts and Information - Why are Dogfaced Puffer Fish slimy?
Dogfaced Puffer Fish secrete a type of mucus, or slime, from their skin. This slime provides protection against parasites and infections and helps the Dogfaced Puffer Fish to move through the water faster. Some fish species also release toxins in their slime which ward off enemy attacks. Other fish species use their slime to feed their young.

Interesting Facts and Information - Why do Dogfaced Puffer Fish have gills?
Gills enable the Dogfaced Puffer Fish to breathe. Gills consist of thin sheets of tissue containing blood vessels. As water passes over the gills oxygen is absorbed into the blood stream Carbon dioxide passes out into the water. The gills are protected by a large bony plate called an operculum. Some fish species however have lungs and breathe air.

Interesting Facts and Information - Why do the Dogfaced Puffer Fish have fins?
A fin is an external appendage or "limb" of a fish. Fins are used for directing, stabilizing, or propelling the different fish species in water. Numbers of fins vary between fish species, but there are usually seven. Each of the fins on a fish are designed to perform a specific function:

• Dorsal fins - The dorsal fin is located on the backs of fishes. The Dogfaced Puffer Fish has Dorsal fins to lend stability in swimming.

• Ventral fins. The ventral fin is located on the pelvic area of fishes. The Dogfaced Puffer Fish has Ventral fins to lend stability in swimming.

• Caudal fins. The Caudal fin is located on the tail area of fishes. The Dogfaced Puffer Fish has Caudal fins to propel through the water.

• Pectoral fins. The Pectoral fin is located on the breast area of fishes. The Dogfaced Puffer Fish has Pectoral fins to for locomotion and side to side movement

Interesting Facts and Information about Dogfaced Puffer Fish