Common names: puffer (English), botete (Espanol), tamboril (Espanol)
 
Lagocephalus lagocephalus (Linnaeus, 1758)


Oceanic puffer


Body elongate; snout longer than distance between eyes; eyes high on sides of head; nasal organ consisting of 2 holes on side of snout; jaws are a beak composed of 4 fused heavy powerful teeth with a central suture on each jaw;  mouth small, beak projecting; a slit-like gill opening in front of the pectoral fin base; a single short- based dorsal fin at rear of body; a similar-shaped anal fin below the dorsal;  dorsal and anal fins pointed; dorsal 11-15 rays; anal 10-13 rays; pectoral 13-16; no pelvic fins; no spines in the fins;  tail base slender (depth < ½ length); tail fin slightly concave lower lobe longer,  with 10 main rays; tough scaleless skin; body smooth except for small spines from chin to anus and on belly.



Upper body and head dark green, brownish grey or dark blue; flanks silver with black spots; white belly; fins dark, lower 1/3 of pectoral white.

        Size: 61 cm.

Habitat: pelagic, oceanic, but may enter estuaries.

        
        Depth: 0-20 m.

        CIrcumtropical; California to Ecuador (except for the Gulf of California) and the oceanic islands.