Life History and Ecology
The Caribbean sharp-nose puffer fish (Canthigaster rostrata) is a relatively small omnivorous fish that lives in the shallow waters of the Caribbean usually on coral reefs, but they are also sometimes found in sea grass beds. These fish are usually found on the back reef, reef flat, and fore reef zones of the coral reef (Anonymous). Puffer fish are so named because of their ability to inflate their bodies as a defense against predators. Puffers inflate their bodies by filling it with air or water. This causes them to appear larger and it also makes them harder for predators to swallow. Puffer fish also have poisonous flesh filled with tetrodotoxin that keeps them from being readily preyed upon (Anonymous 2009).
Physical Characteristics/ Behavior
The sharp-nose puffer fish is a relatively small football-shaped fish that has a large pointed snout, small fins toward the posterior end of the body, and a prominent tail. The sides of the fish vary in color from a pale yellow to white with bright blue spots. The edges of the tailfin have thick dark borders that distinguish the Caribbean sharp-nosed puffer from other similar species. In females their dorsal side is usually brown and in males it is usually grey (Anonymous).
The sharp-nose puffers are territorial and coexist with other sharp-nose puffers in a very complex social structure. The females will defend a small, permanent territory, and the males defend a larger territory that encompasses several of the smaller female territories. The puffers know their territory boundaries of their other neighbors. If one puffer must cross into another puffer’s territory they change to a mottled color pattern that is thought to help camouflage them from the territories owner. This color also indicates that they are no threat if they are sighted. If the puffer is caught going into another puffer’s territory it is met with aggressive displays, such as tilting the body and presenting flank. If this display does not deter the intruder the defending puffer will face its enemy head on with fins spread out to make it look bigger. If the intruder yields to the defending puffer it will display a submissive look where he belly is flattened and it will swim away. However, if the intruder persists the two fish will circle each other in an attempt to bite one another. The sharp-nose puffer’s main defense against predators is to retreat into a reef recess. However, as a last resort puffers can inflate themselves to make them more difficult swallow (Anonymous).
Sharp-nose puffers have different behaviors at certain parts of the day. For example, at dawn spawning occurs after sunrise, during the day puffers forage and defend their territories, at dusk they seek shelter for the night, and at night they rest within the reef (Anonymous 2010).
Scientific name:
Canthigaster rostrata
Professional image:
https://s2r.iucnredlist.org/sis2_images/229064815.jpg
My images:
On approximately March 4, 2014 at: I took the following image:
I am pretty sure this fish is a Sharpnose Puffer. The image is out of focus but it appears to be the right size, coloring, and shape. Note the fish I am returning to is NOT the initial phase parrotfish that is also in the image.