Pufferfish

Pufferfish can inflate into a ball shape to evade predators. Also known as blowfish, these clumsy swimmers fill their elastic stomachs with huge amounts of water (and sometimes air) and blow themselves up to several times their normal size. Some species also have spines on their skin to ward off predators. Even if a predator gobbles up a puffer before it inflates, it won't enjoy the snack. Most pufferfish contain a toxic substance that makes them foul tasting and potentially deadly to other fish. The toxin is deadly to humans. There is enough poison in one pufferfish to kill 30 adult humans, and there is no known antidote. In Japan, they are called fugu and are a very expensive, delicious treat. They are prepared only by trained, licensed fugu chefs. Most puffers are found in tropical and subtropical ocean waters, but some species live in brackish and even fresh water. Some species of pufferfish are considered vulnerable due to pollution, habitat loss, and overfishing, but most populations are considered stable.

Pufferfish inflate to repel predators

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Pufferfish and porcupinefish - Seattle Aquarium

National Marine Sanctuary Foundation

Fugu Fish: The poisonous Japanese Puffer Fish you can buy online

The Blue World: Never make a pufferfish angry - CGTN

5 Different Types of Pufferfish Found Worldwide - AquaViews

Pufferfish and Porcupine fish all over! - Dive Zihuatanejo

Who Is Pufferfish on 'The Masked Singer'? - Parade

Porcupine Pufferfish – Marine Collectors

Pufferfish - Australian Geographic

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Porcupine pufferfish packs poisonous punch – Susan Scott

All Puffed Up Chesapeake Bay Magazine

Pufferfish Don't Need Functional Stomach, Inflate Instead