Knowra Pufferfish Pufferfish Pufferfish are fish that inflate their bodies by rapidly taking in water or air when threatened. Most belong to the family Tetraodontidae and contain the potent neurotoxin tetrodotoxin.
Tetrodotoxin : A potent neurotoxin that blocks voltage-gated sodium channels in nerve and muscle cells. Many pufferfish carry this toxin in tissues, making ingestion dangerous to predators and people.
Fugu : Japanese cuisine made from pufferfish, prepared under strict controls because some tissues contain tetrodotoxin. Fugu is the best-known culinary use of pufferfish, with danger shaped by species and preparation.
Tetraodontidae : A family of ray-finned fishes that includes most species commonly called pufferfish. This family contains the majority of pufferfish species.
Tiger puffer : A large pufferfish species, Takifugu rubripes, native to the coastal waters of the northwest Pacific. This species is a major source of fugu and a focus of aquaculture.
Fish inflation : A defensive behavior in which a fish rapidly enlarges its body by swallowing water or air. Pufferfish expand their bodies when threatened, making themselves harder to swallow.
Fugu poisoning : A potentially fatal illness caused by eating pufferfish tissues containing tetrodotoxin. Improperly prepared pufferfish can deliver a rapidly acting dose of tetrodotoxin.
Tetraodontiformes : An order of mostly marine ray-finned fishes that includes pufferfish, porcupinefish, and triggerfish. Pufferfish belong to this broader group of distinctive, often armored fishes.
Freshwater pufferfish : Pufferfish species that live in freshwater habitats rather than marine environments. Their existence counters the assumption that all pufferfish are marine.
Fish spines : Rigid, pointed structures on fish that can deter predators or aid defense. Some pufferfish raise spines as their bodies swell, adding a physical barrier to ingestion.
Fisheries management : The regulation and stewardship of fish populations and fisheries. Catch limits and trade rules affect pufferfish populations and seafood safety.
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