pufferfish

Everyday

A pufferfish is a fish that can quickly swallow water to blow itself up into a big, round, often spiky ball to scare off predators. Many kinds are very poisonous. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons pufferfish show defence adaptations: puffing up makes them hard to swallow, and many contain a strong poison (tetrodotoxin) that has no known antidote. In Japan, pufferfish (fugu) is eaten as a delicacy, prepared only by specially trained chefs. Some male pufferfish make beautiful circle patterns in the sand to attract females. Phrases: «puff up like a pufferfish», «fugu».

Examples

• The pufferfish blew itself up into a spiky ball. tree →
• Many pufferfish are poisonous to eat. tree →
• In Japan, only licensed chefs may prepare pufferfish. tree →
• A male pufferfish drew a circle pattern in the sand. tree →
• Puffing up makes the pufferfish too big for most predators to swallow. tree →
• We saw a pufferfish while snorkelling in Australia. tree →

Note

Plural usually «pufferfish», sometimes «pufferfishes». Also called «blowfish» or «puffer». Safety: never touch or eat a pufferfish you find on a beach.