blackspotted puffer
Arothron nigropunctatus
Reef puffer with large black spots, reaching 33 cm. It lives in the Indo-Pacific and is recorded in Mexico. It is poisonous to eat.
Also called: baiacu-de-pintas-pretas, baiacu, blackspotted puffer
- maximum
- 33 cm
- depth
- 0–60 m
who is the blackspotted puffer
The family Tetraodontidae includes the puffers, round-bodied and covered in small spines. This species reaches 33 cm and lives on Indo-Pacific reefs, from east Africa to Micronesia and Samoa, north to southern Japan and south to New South Wales; in Latin America it is recorded in Mexico. It occupies coral reefs, from the shore to the outer crest and slopes, from 0 to 60 m, with plenty of invertebrates. It feeds on tips of Acropora corals, crustaceans, mollusks, sponges, tunicates and algae. Sometimes it lives alone, but adults usually go in pairs. It is common and enters commercial fishing and public aquariums.
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 blackspotted puffer; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- Adults are usually found in pairs.
identification
Round-bodied, short and deep, covered in small spines, with large black spots scattered across it. Those spots are the main mark for identifying it. It lives on reefs with lots of invertebrate growth. Do not confuse it with the guineafowl puffer (baiacu-galinha-de-angola), which has pale spots on a dark background, not large black spots.
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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
Indo-Pacific species, from east Africa to Micronesia and Samoa, north to southern Japan and south to New South Wales. In Latin America it is recorded only in Mexico. There are no records from the Brazilian coast.
Habitat: Coral reefs, from the shore to the outer crest and slopes, from 0 to 60 m.
rules for the blackspotted 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 and release it promptly.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.03715, b = 2.87; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa pelo gênero e formato do corpo)). 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 nigropunctatus (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 nigropunctatusNames by country and language.
