Arothron stellatus (Anonymous, 1798)

Size and Shape

Arothron stellatus is a very large pufferfish that reaches up to 120 cm (47 in) in length. Its body has an oval, spherical and relatively elongated shape.

Skin and Fins

The skin lacks scales and has a prickly texture. This fish has neither pelvic fins nor a lateral line. Its small, symmetric dorsal and anal fins are located at the rear of the body. It has a large head with a short snout that bears two pairs of nostrils, and a terminal mouth containing four strong teeth.

Adult Coloration

Its base body color ranges from white to grey, and the entire body is evenly covered in black spots. The belly is usually a lighter color. Spot size is inversely proportional to the size of the fish: young individuals have large spots, while full-grown adult individuals have small spots.

Juvenile Coloration

Juvenile Arothron stellatus have a yellowish base body color marked with dark stripes. Young adults retain stripes on their belly that will develop into spots later in life, and still have some yellow coloration remaining on their body.

Distribution and Habitat

This species occurs in tropical and subtropical waters, ranging from the Indian Ocean and Red Sea east to Polynesia, north to southern Japan, and south to the western, northern and eastern coasts of Australia and Lord Howe Island. It is a relatively uncommon species that lives near external reef slopes and clear-water sheltered lagoons, most often close to sandy areas, at depths from the surface down to around 58 m (190 ft).