Arothron
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 White-spotted Puffer, Arothron hispidus
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The genus Arothron, or fat puffers, is a member of the pufferfish family (Tetraodontidae). Arothron is perhaps notable as being the pufferfish most commonly kept by marine aquarists. Also it is especially this genus that divers and hobbyists describe as being 'cute', due to their large expressive eyes, the ability to blink and vocalise and their dog-like snouts. The largest of these is the species stellatus which can grow to 48 inches in length.
All species of puffers are highly toxic, containing a lethal poison called tetrodotoxin, perhaps the most potent toxin in nature, 10,000 times more powerful than cyanide. A dose of 1 - 2 mg of toxin can be lethal. Reported cases from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have documented toxicity with ingestion of as little as 1.4 ounces of puffer fish. Patients with severe toxicity may have deep coma, fixed nonreactive pupils, apnea, and loss of all brain stem reflexes. Death can occur within 4 - 6 hours. Typically, death occurs from respiratory muscle paralysis and respiratory failure.
[edit] Species
- Blue-spotted puffer, Arothron caeruleopunctatus Matsuura, 1994
- Arothron carduus (Cantor, 1849))
- Masked puffer, Arothron diadematus (Rüppell, 1829)
- Starry toado, Arothron firmamentum (Temminck & Schlegel, 1850)
- Arothron gillbanksii (Clarke, 1897)
- Poison puffer or white-spotted puffer, Arothron hispidus (Linnaeus, 1758)
- Immaculate puffer, Arothron immaculatus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
- Bellystriped blaasop, Arothron inconditus Smith, 1958
- Banded leopardblowfish, Arothron leopardus (Day, 1878)
- Guinea fowl puffer, Arothron meleagris (Lacépède, 1798)
- Map puffer, Arothron mappa (Lesson, 1831)
- Narrow-lined puffer, Arothron manilensis (de Procé, 1822)
- Blackspotted puffer, Arothron nigropunctatus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
- Reticulated puffer, Arothron reticularis (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
- Star puffer, Arothron stellatus (Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
[edit] References
- Arothron (TSN 173307). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 6 June 2006.
- "Arothron". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. May 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
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