Starry Puffer

Arothron stellatus (Anonymous, 1798)

syn. Arothron aerostaticus, Arothron alboreticulatus, Arothron stellatus, Chelonodon stellaris, Diodon asper, Kanduka michiei +13 more

120 cm2-58 mPoisonousLeast Concern

1852

Arothron stellatus, also known as the stellate pufferfish or starry toadfish, is a distinctive species that inhabits the shallow waters of the Indo-Pacific region. This large fish can reach lengths of up to 120 cm (47 in), making it quite notable. It features an oval, elongated body with a prickly skin texture, but it lacks scales. Unlike many fish, it does not have a pelvic fin or lateral line. Its dorsal and anal fins are small and symmetrically situated at the rear, while its large head is characterized by a short snout and two pairs of nostrils. The mouth, located at the terminal end, contains four sturdy teeth. Its coloration varies from white to grey with a pattern of black spots, and the ventral side is typically lighter. Interestingly, the spot size changes as the fish matures; young have larger spots and a yellowish body with dark stripes, which evolve into smaller spots in adults.

This pufferfish is a relatively uncommon sight, mainly found in tropical and subtropical waters stretching from the 🌊 Indian Ocean and 🌊 Red Sea to Polynesia, and around 🇯🇵 Japan and 🇦🇺 Australia, including Lord Howe Island. Arothron stellatus favors the outer slopes of reefs and sheltered lagoons with clear water, typically dwelling in sandy areas at depths between 2 and 58 meters (up to 190 feet).

Diet-wise, the Arothron stellatus feeds on a variety of benthic invertebrates, such as sponges, algae, coral polyps, crustaceans, and molluscs. These pufferfish are diurnal, meaning they are active during the day, and they usually live alone, fiercely defending their territory.

One of the defining features of the Arothron stellatus is its production of tetrodotoxin, a potent poison found mainly in its ovaries, but also in its skin and liver. The toxin derives from bacteria consumed by the fish, offering a strong defense against predators. Additionally, the pufferfish can inflate itself by taking in air or water, deterring potential threats.

Why it's threatened

Residential & commercial development

Housing & urban areas · Commercial & industrial areas · Tourism & recreation areas

Biological resource use

Intentional use: (subsistence/small scale) [harvest] · Unintentional effects: (subsistence/small scale) [harvest] · Unintentional effects: (large scale) [harvest]

Pollution

Sewage · Run-off · Type Unknown/Unrecorded · Oil spills · Seepage from mining · Nutrient loads · Soil erosion, sedimentation · Herbicides and pesticides · Garbage & solid waste

Climate change & severe weather

Habitat shifting & alteration · Temperature extremes

Arothron stellatus is incidentally caught in artisanal fisheries (i.e. in Sabah, Malaysia) (K. Matsuura pers. comm. 2011). It is reportedly highly palatable if handled with care. It is called "Moyo-fugu" in Japan (Nakabo 2002). _A_Due to its palatable taste and demand in the artisan food markets of Japan, this species may be experiencing or may begin to experience population declines.

Arothron stellatus is incidentally taken as bycatch in the Torres Strait Prawn Fishery (Turnbull et al. 2007) and the Australian Northern Prawn Fishery (Stobutzki et al. 2001).

There have been no confirmed population declines in A. stellatus. However, because of its association with coral reefs, mangroves and sea grasses, we infer that A. stellatus 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).

Threat classification from the IUCN Red List.