How to Identify Guineafowl Puffer

To identify Guineafowl Puffer (Arothron meleagris), look at these key features.

Physical Characteristics

Body shape

rounded

Coloration

Highly polymorphic. Two main color phases: 1. Black with numerous small, distinct white spots covering the entire body, resembling a guineafowl's plumage. 2. Uniformly bright yellow, often with a few scattered black spots, particularly around the eyes and fins. The eyes are typically yellow or orange. Fins are generally the same color as the body or slightly darker.

Scale type

none

Mouth position

terminal

Distinctive features

Robust, rounded body shape, Small, beak-like mouth with four strong teeth fused into two plates in each jaw, Absence of pelvic fins, Ability to inflate its body into a spherical shape when threatened, Rough, sandpaper-like skin texture due to small dermal spines (spinules) that are usually recessed but can be erected when inflated, Absence of scales

Dorsal fin

Single, small, rounded dorsal fin located far back on the body, opposite the anal fin. Typically has 10-12 soft rays.

Tail fin

Truncate to slightly rounded caudal fin.

Pectoral fin

Small, rounded pectoral fins located just behind the gill openings. Typically has 16-18 soft rays.

Distinctive fins

No pelvic fins. Dorsal and anal fins are positioned symmetrically and are relatively small compared to the body size.

Identification Tips

1. 1

   Coloration

   Look for either the black body with numerous small white spots (guineafowl phase) or the entirely bright yellow body (golden phase). These two distinct color morphs are key identifiers.

2. 2

   Body Shape

   Observe its robust, rounded, and somewhat boxy body. When threatened, it will inflate into a spherical shape.

3. 3

   Mouth

   Note the small, beak-like mouth with fused teeth, characteristic of pufferfish.

4. 4

   Fins

   Absence of pelvic fins and small, rounded dorsal and anal fins positioned far back on the body are indicative.

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