Longspined porcupinefish (Diodon holocanthus) is a saltwater species recorded in Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, United States. It is mainly found over reef, at depths of 2–200 m.
Scientific name: Diodon holocanthus · Water: Saltwater
Size: up to 50 cm
The longspined porcupinefish is a diodontid, one of the porcupinefishes and a close relative of the puffers. It lives from shallow reefs onto open, soft and muddy bottoms, sometimes in groups. Its juveniles are pelagic up to about 6 to 9 cm and often drift with Sargassum rafts. At night it feeds on molluscs, sea urchins, hermit crabs and crabs; it is a relatively poor swimmer and is sometimes taken at the surface with a hand net. Commonly about 15 cm and up to 50 cm total length, present in several regions and in season all year.
Caution: large individuals carry a ciguatera risk. Heat, cold and marinating do not remove the toxin, which concentrates in the liver, roe and head, so avoid eating those parts. Seek medical help if numbness, tingling or a reversed sense of hot and cold follows a meal.
Caution: contains tetrodotoxin. Never prepare or eat this fish yourself; handling and eating must follow the local food-safety rules.
Back to home · Hong Kong, Taiwan, Malaysia, United States · Species library