Order Tetraodontiformes Modern Fishes

Tetraodontiformes 1

The Tetraodontiform Body

• Tetraodontiform fishes vary distinctly in their body form:    Gill openings are usually small Pelvic fins are absent Body plan ranges from globular, triangular to extremely compressed Tetraodontiformes 2

The Tetraodontiform Body

Ocean Sunfish Tetraodontiformes Gray Triggerfish Scrawled Cowfish Striped Burrfish 3

Tetraodontiform Protection

• Since they are vulnerable to predators most posses some form of protection: Burrfish Tetraodontiformes 4

Tetraodontiform Taxonomy

• • • • Balistidae o Leatherjackets  Filefish & Triggerfish Ostraciidae o Boxfishes Tetraodontidae o Puffers Diodontidae o Porcupinefish • Molidae o Molas Tetraodontiformes 5

Family Balistidae

• • Triggerfish & Filefish Common species: o o o Planehead Filefish ( Stephanolepis hispidus ) Gray Triggerfish ( Balistes capriscus ) Humuhumu nukunuku apua’a  Hawaiian Triggerfish Tetraodontiformes 6

Balistidae Habits

• Usually slow moving, brightly colored reef dwellers • Both have robust dorsal spines and a pelvic apparatus which is slightly distensible Filefish feeding on a Moon Jelly Tetraodontiformes 7

Triggerfish

• Has 3 dorsal spines, compared to 2 of the filefish Trigger Mechanism 8 Tetraodontiformes

Tetraodontiformes

Triggerfish

9

Tetraodontiformes

Filefish

10

Family Ostraciidae

• • Boxfishes Common species: o Scrawled Cowfish ( Lactophrys quadricornis ) Tetraodontiformes 11

Ostraciidae Characteristics

• Body is enclosed in a bony carapace, and a spinous dorsal is absent o Some spp. secrete ostracitoxin Scrawled Cowfish Tetraodontiformes 12

Family Tetraodontidae

• • Puffers Common species: o Northern Puffer ( Sphoeroides maculatus ) Tetraodontiformes 13

Tetraodontidae Characteristics

• • Have strong beak-like jaws with four teeth Slow moving fishes, that rely on toxins and the ability to puff themselves up for protection Tetraodontiformes 14

Tetrodotoxin

• Tetrodotoxin found in the internal organs o o Can be fatal to humans Eaten in Japan (Fugu) and prepared by licensed cooks • Symptoms o Slight numbness of the lips and tongue o Increased paralysis, unable to move, respiratory distress, affected speech Tetraodontiformes 15

Family Diodontidae

• • Porcupinefish Common species: o Striped Burrfish ( Chilomycterus schoepfi ) Tetraodontiformes 16

Diodontidae Characteristics

• Have two fused teeth in the mouth o o Family with inflatable body Body covered in well developed sharp spines (some erect when body inflated) Tetraodontiformes 17

Family Molidae

• • Molas / Sunfish Common species: o Ocean Sunfish ( Mola mola ) Tetraodontiformes 18

Molidae Characteristics

• • Large, sluggish pelagic predators that feed on jellyfish and other invertebrates Considered to be the most fecund vertebrates in the world, over 300 million eggs Tetraodontiformes 19