Research

project-1-research-poster2.pdf
Porcupinefish:

Ø Live in community systems

Ø Porcupinefish have spines over their bodies, which are actually modified scales, which lay flat against its body most of the time unless it feels threatened.

Ø The spines of the fish have roots, either two rooted or three routed.

Ø The roots generally touch each other under the skin to provided a layer of armor under the skin.

Ø The fish swim by making a wave like motion with their dorsal fins.

Ø Swimming power is compromised by the development of spines.

Ø They have fused front teeth, rather than separated teeth typical of other puffers.

Ø Porcupine Puffers may grow to lengths of up to 18 inches.

Ø Because the porcupine fish lacks pleural ribs and a pelvic girdle, expansion is not as strictly inhibited as in most puffer fish.

Ø The vertebral column is also highly flexible. It bends in an arc towards the dorsal side of the fish, allowing the fish to attain its characteristic spherical shape upon inflation

Ø The stomach, which has lost its digestive function, plays a key role in the inflation process.

Ø In addition to the elastic stomach, generous peritoneal space and skeletal structure, porcupinefish skin is also specialized for inflation. The skin of the fish is highly elastic because of microfolds in the epidermis and collagen fibers of the dermis. These allow the fish to extend through 40% of its initial length before it begins to stiffen.

Ø The porcupinefish is a shy creature and will retreat if approached by divers. They secrete a toxic skin substance so are usually considered poisonous, although they have been known to be eaten in Hawaii and
Tahiti. In the orient the dried, inflated bodies are sold as tourist novelties. And on some Pacific islands, the dried skins were used in the past as war helmets. Porcupinefish are also collected for private and public show aquariums. They are not normally caught for human consumption.

Ø To try and protect themselves from the larger predators such as sharks, dolphins, and tuna, the porcupine fish will school together to give the appearance of being one large fish.

Ø As soon as a fish strays form this group it is devoured.

Processing