Fahaka pufferfish

Fahaka pufferfish
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Tetraodontiformes
Family: Tetraodontidae
Genus: Tetraodon
Species: T. lineatus
Binomial name
Tetraodon lineatus
Linnaeus, 1758

The Fahaka pufferfish (from Arabic: فهقة), also known as the Nile puffer, Globe fish, Lineatus puffer (Tetraodon lineatus), is a tropical freshwater pufferfish found in the Nile river and other river basins of Africa.[1]

Characteristics

Fahaka pufferfish grow to around 43 cm (17-18").[1] Like all puffers they have the ability to inflate when threatened and carry the toxin Tetrodotoxin. Fahaka pufferfish, like other molluscivores, feed mainly on benthic organisms which may include freshwater mussels and snails.[1] They are typically found in large rivers, open water, weed beds and vegetated fringes in water ranging from 24°C - 26°C.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2009). "Tetraodon lineatus" in FishBase. May 2009 version.
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