Scientific Name: Arothron manilensis
Max. size: 31.0 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment: reef-associated; brackish; marine
Distribution: Western Pacific: Borneo, Philippines, and northwest Australia to Samoa, north to the Ryukyu Islands, south to New South Wales, Australia and Tonga.
Morphology: Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-11; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 9-10. Body covered with prickles. Many longitudinal dark stripes on body, although the stripes sometimes faint.
Biology: Occurs in estuaries, sheltered reef flats, and lagoons to a depth of more than 17 m. Common in seagrass beds and sandy areas; juveniles found among mangroves
Aquarium Care:Pufferfishes are smaller than Porcupinefishes and many species contain a strong toxin, and also have the ability to inflate themselves by ingesting large quantities of air. They do not have pelvic fins, and their front teeth are fused together, yet separated by a gap giving the appearance of having four teeth. In the wild they feed upon snails, tube worms, crabs, sponges, starfish, clams, shrimp, urchins, tunicates, coral polyps, and algae, including coralline algae. In the aquarium, they will take any type of meaty foodstuffs, e.g., brine shrimp, earthworms, and tubifex/black worms, and should also have some fresh greens to graze upon. They may graze upon coralline algae and are not safe with tubeworms and/or, can become fin-nippers.