Panther Puffer

Body without prickles and covered with small rounded elevations of skin. Pale brown with many blackish spots dorsally; white ventrally. Pectoral, dorsal and anal fins dull orange; caudal fin blackish (Ref. 559).

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11 - 14; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 9 - 12

Occurs near shore in rock bottoms (Ref. 11230). Commonly associated with seagrass beds at Aburatsubo, central Japan (Ref. 58576). Juveniles of 4 cm SL, fed mainly on small crustaceans and gammaridean amphipods. Fish over 4 cm SL mainly consumed gastropods and bivalves (Musculus) (Ref. 58576). Difference in diet among size classes may partly result from the development of the beak-like dentition (Ref. 58576).

Occurs near shore in rock bottoms (Ref. 11230).

Takifugu pardalis, known as the panther puffer, is a species of pufferfish in the family Tetraodontidae. It is a marine species native to the Northwest Pacific, where it ranges from Hakodate in Japan to the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea. It is demersal, occurring in coastal rocky areas, and reaches 30 cm (11.8 inches) SL. It is known to be poisonous. Both the scientific and common name of this species reference its distinctive spotted pattern, which resembles that of a leopard.