The Digital Fish Library

Distribution:
Worldwide in tropical seas, occasionally in temperate waters.

Habitat:
Generally associated with coral or rocky reefs, or less frequently with sea grass beds and sand or mud bottoms, to 150 m.

Remarks:
The name Diodontidae refers to the parrot-like beak of what appears to be two teeth. Porcupinefishes are inflatable and have large spines, sometimes quite long, and have no pelvic fins. Some species have longer spines (with two roots) which are erectile upon inflation; others have shorter spines (with three roots) which are fixed in the erect position.

Porcupinefishes inflate when disturbed, presenting a ball of spines to a potential predator, a formidable defense.

There are seven or eight genera and about 19 species in this family.

References:
Leis, pp. 3958-3965, in: Carpenter & Niem 2001; Leis, pp. 2007-2013, in: Carpenter 2002; Leis 2006