Immaculate Puffer

There have been no confirmed population declines in A. immaculatus. However, because of its affinity with coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds, we infer that A. immaculatus may be experiencing population declines due to habitat loss in parts of its range.

As of 2008, fifteen percent of the world’s coral reefs were considered under imminent threat of being “Effectively Lost” (with 90% of the corals lost and unlikely to recover soon), with regions in East Africa, South and South-east Asia, and the wider Caribbean being the most highly threatened (Wilkinson et al. 2008). Of 704 zooxanthellate reef-building coral species which were assessed by using the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List Criteria, 32.8% are in categories with elevated risk of extinction (Carpenter et al. 2008).

One-third of global seagrass species are currently experiencing population declines, and 21% of globally assessed seagrass species are in threatened or near-threatened categories primarily due to coastal development and pollution (Short et al. 2011).

Globally, 16% of mangrove species are at elevated risk of extinction. Particular areas of geographical concern include the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Central America, where as many as 40% of mangroves species present are threatened with extinction. (Polidoro et al. 2010). In the Caribbean, approximately 24% of mangrove area has been lost over the past quarter-century (FAO 2007).

Arothron immaculatus is currently sold commercially in the aquarium trade, and is exported primarily from the Maldives and Indonesia (BlueZooAquatics.com, LiveAquaria.com). Additionally, A. hispidus may be experiencing population declines as a result of harvesting for human consumption as part of the pufferfish trade.