What Are Characteristics of the Guineafowl Puffer?

The Brown Whitespotted Pufferfish is also known as Guineafowl Puffer, Golden Puffer, Speckled Balloon Fish, Fugu and various other names. This particular species is widespread throughout the coral areas and rocky reefs of the eastern Pacific, Indo-Pacific and from Mexico to Ecuador.

  1. Coloration

    • Guineafowl Puffers occur in diverse natural colorations. The most common is dark coloring with white spots, which strongly resembles that of the Guineafowl, a pheasant-like bird. This puffer also grows into white-splotched, yellow, gold and white stages. In the dark or black stage, the puffer has white spots over its entire body. Guineafowl Puffers in the wild change into a golden phase, denoted by their deep burgundy to golden bronze tinge with fading white spots. During the yellow phase, the Guineafowl Puffer no longer has white spots on its scaleless body.

    Body

    • The Guineafowl Puffer has a heavy, round body. Its head is large and blunt with a short snout and high-sitting eyes. The fish lacks pelvic fins, but utilizes its rounded pectoral, dorsal and anal fins to steer itself through the water. This species, like all puffers, can take in water to expand its body and transform into a large, prickly, inconsumable orb. Their skin and some organs contain a powerful toxin that can sicken or kill humans who eat them unless they are carefully prepared by a knowledgeable chef.

    Diet

    • Guineafowl Puffers have jaws that resemble heavy beaks, composed of four fused, heavy, powerful teeth, which they use to crush their prey. These fish are omnivores, consuming a wide assortment of marine life. The primary diet consists of coral tips, though it regularly includes krill, sponges, mollusks, algae, crabs and shrimp. Most Guineafowl Puffers hunt during evening hours and are usually only found at night. Those that live in the Gulf of Mexico tend to be active in the day.

    Distribution

    • The Guineafowl Puffer is found in tropical waters from Hawaii south to the Tuamato archipelago, from Mexico to Ecuador, westward across the Pacific Ocean from Africa and through Micronesia to the Philippines and East Indies.