Balloonfish

Familia: Puercoespines(Diodontidae))
Tamaño: Hasta 50 cm (20 in) | Común 15 cm
Profundidad: 2 – 200m (6 – 650ft)
Distribución: Circumtropical (Atlantic, Indian, and Pacific Oceans).

Identificación:
The underwater comedian with a flair for drama. Also known as the Long-spine Porcupinefish.

• Apariencia: It features a round, pale body covered in large black blotches and spots. A distinct dark brown bar runs vertically through the eye.
• Espinas: Unlike the boxfish, its body is covered in long, sharp spines that lay flat against the body when calm.
• Coloración: It is often confused with the Spot-fin Porcupinefish. The key difference is the fins: the Balloonfish has clear or yellowish fins without spots, whereas the Spot-fin has spotted fins.

Comportamiento:
A nocturnal hunter with a unique defense.

• Defensa: When threatened or startled, it gulps water and inflates like a prickly balloon, erecting its long spines to deter predators.
• Dieta: It is a poor swimmer that hunts at night. It uses its powerful beak (fused teeth) to crush hard-shelled invertebrates like sea urchins, hermit crabs, and mollusks.
• En Bahía Solano: They are usually seen solitary over sandy bottoms or hiding in reef crevices during the day.