Map Pufferfish

Arothron mappa

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Tetraodontiformes
Family: Tetraodontidae
Genus: Arothron
Species: Arothron mappa

The map pufferfish (Arothron mappa) is a large puffer with a pale body covered in a maze of dark lines radiating from the eyes, like a map.

It grows to about 65 cm and feeds on sponges, algae, molluscs and other invertebrates. Like other puffers it can inflate itself, and its organs are highly toxic.

The map pufferfish is found in the Indo-West Pacific, including the Philippines, where it lives on coral reefs and lagoons. It is a relative of the blackspotted puffer.