spotted porcupinefish
Diodon hystrix
Porcupinefish with a body covered in long spines, which inflates. It can be venomous if eaten, so it is not fit for eating.
Also called: baiacu-de-espinho, graviola, pez erizo, puercoespín, spotted porcupinefish
- maximum
- 91 cm
- record/max.
- 2.8 kg
- depth
- 3–20 m
who is the spotted porcupinefish
Porcupinefish of the family Diodontidae, with a robust body covered in long, sharp spines that lie flat when the fish is not inflated. It reaches 91 cm and 2.8 kg, but its common size is around 40 cm. It lives on lagoon and open-sea reefs, down to at least 50 m, and hides in caves and holes in shallow reefs. Juveniles, up to about 20 cm, are pelagic, and adults live on the bottom, alone and nocturnal. It eats sea urchins, gastropods and hermit crabs. It occurs in all tropical seas; in the western Atlantic it ranges from Massachusetts to Brazil. It is not usually eaten.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the spotted porcupinefish; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- In an aquarium, one specimen lived 10 years.
identification
Grayish-brown body with small black spots, no large blotches, and a white belly surrounded by a dark band. The spines are long, and the teeth join in each jaw, without a gap in the middle, forming a beak. To tell it apart from Diodon holocanthus, which has large dark blotches on the back and brown bars on the head, check whether the fish has only small spots, including on the fins.
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Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
In Latin America it occurs in the Atlantic, from the Caribbean to Brazil, and in the Pacific, from Mexico to Chile and the Galápagos, on reefs and in lagoons.
Habitat: Lagoon and open-sea reefs, down to at least 50 m, with caves and holes.
coast
when to fish
best time of day
Nighttime. According to the species source, it is solitary and nocturnal, feeding on hard-shelled animals at night.
rules for the spotted porcupinefish
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
Conservation: Not on the Brazilian national list (Ministerial Ordinance GM/MMA No. 1.667/2026).
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
It is not for eating, because it can be venomous. The long spines and the beak of fused teeth call for care when handling; it is best to release it quickly.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.08913, b = 2.77; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Diodon hystrix (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Diodon hystrixNames by country and language.
- official Portaria GM/MMA nº 1.667, de 27 de abril de 2026: Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção (peixes e invertebrados aquáticos)The species is not on the list. Checked in the DOU of April 28, 2026.
