Arothron stellatus

Behavior:

The starry puffer is a slow-moving, solitary giant often found patrolling sandy flats, seagrass beds, or the edges of clear lagoons. Despite its size, it is generally shy and will maintain a “safe distance” from divers. It is a diurnal predator with a highly specialized diet; using its powerful, beak-like mouth, it crushes heavy-shelled prey such as sea urchins, large mollusks, and crustaceans. During the day, they are occasionally seen resting motionless on the seabed, relying on their mottled pattern to blend into the sand and rubble. This fish undergoes a dramatic color change as it ages: juveniles are bright orange or yellow with thick black stripes, while adults fade to a white or grey base covered in a “starry” galaxy of small black spots. If threatened, it can swallow water to inflate its body to twice its normal size, making it nearly impossible for a predator to swallow.

Predators:

Sharks

Did you know?

Like its cousins, the starry puffer contains tetrodotoxin, a potent neurotoxin concentrated in its skin and internal organs that is over 1,000 times more deadly than cyanide.