Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Actinopterygii
- Order
- Tetraodontiformes
- Family
- Tetraodontidae
- Genus
- Ephippion
- Species
- guttifer
Habitat
This species inhabits coastal marine environments in the eastern Atlantic, including rocky reefs, sandy bottoms, and shallow waters up to 50 meters deep. It prefers tropical and subtropical regions with abundant cover from corals and seagrasses. Geographic preferences include areas off West Africa and the Mediterranean.
Diet
The prickly puffer primarily feeds on hard-shelled invertebrates like mollusks, crabs, and sea urchins, using its strong beak to crush shells. It forages during the day in shallow waters, often searching along the seafloor for prey. Feeding behavior includes opportunistic scavenging when food is scarce.
Behavior
Prickly puffers are generally solitary and territorial, defending small areas around reefs or hiding spots. They exhibit a defensive inflation behavior when threatened, making themselves larger and spiny to ward off predators. Activity is mostly diurnal, with individuals resting in crevices at night, and they show curiosity towards divers or disturbances.
Conservation Status
Listed as Least Concern by IUCN.