white-spotted puffer
Arothron hispidus
Puffer of reefs, bays and estuaries, reaching 50 cm and 2 kg. It is considered a sport fish, but is poisonous to eat.
Also called: baiacu-de-pintas-brancas, botete pintado, white-spotted puffer
- maximum
- 50 cm
- record/max.
- 2.0 kg
- depth
- 1–50 m
who is the white-spotted puffer
The family Tetraodontidae includes the puffers, round-bodied fish that can inflate with water and have fused teeth shaped like a beak. This species reaches 50 cm and 2 kg. It lives in the Indo-Pacific and in the eastern Pacific, from Baja California to Panama, and in Latin America it is recorded in Mexico, Central America and Ecuador. It occupies reefs, bays and estuaries, from 1 to 50 m, near rocky reefs and sand between reefs. It eats algae, detritus, mollusks, sponges, corals, crabs and other invertebrates. It usually lives alone and is territorial. It is considered a sport fish, but is poisonous to eat.
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 white-spotted puffer; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- Juveniles are common in algae areas of estuaries.
identification
Greenish-brown body, with white spots covering the back, flanks and tail fin, and pale stripes on the belly. It has a single, folded lateral line, and each nostril has two fleshy tentacles. The body has small spines, except near the snout and the tail base. The pale stripes on the belly and the white spots on the greenish-brown background help identify it among the coastal puffers.
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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
It occurs in the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and east Africa to southern Japan and Hawaii, and in the eastern Pacific, from Baja California and the Gulf of California to Panama. In Latin America it is recorded in Mexico, Central America and Ecuador. There are no records from the Brazilian coast.
Habitat: Reefs, bays and estuaries, from 1 to 50 m, near rocky reefs and sand between reefs.
rules for the white-spotted puffer
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
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 poisonous to eat, so never take it home for food. It has small spines on the body and a strong beak: handle it carefully, away from your fingers, and release it promptly.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.03981, b = 2.82; 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: Arothron hispidus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Arothron hispidusNames by country and language.
