Northern Pufferfish
Sphoeroides maculatus
Image by Cliff on Flickr, CC BY 2.0
Physical: Puffers are yellow, brown, or olive-colored with a white underside and are covered in small pricks. They have a tiny, beak-like mouth. They can have dark, splotchy stripes on their sides and small, black spots on their backs, sides, and cheeks. They reach an average of 8 to 10 inches in length.
Habitat: S. maculatus are found from Newfoundland to northeast Florida. They shelter in bays, sounds, estuaries, and prefer silt to sand substrate.
Feeding: Northern Pufferfish feed on small mollusks, crustaceans, and other invertebrates. To escape predators, the pufferfish can expand its body cavity to appear larger and more threatening.
Breeding: S. maculatus spawn from May to August in nearshore waters and estuaries. The fertilized eggs attach themselves to the substrate and hatch a few weeks later.
