Lagocephalus laevigatus
Smooth Puffer
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
There are no photos available for this taxon yet.
Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Tetraodontiformes (Pufferfishes and Allies)
Tetraodontidae (Puffers)
Lagocephalus
Lagocephalus laevigatus (Smooth Puffer)
Description
This species account was compiled from
Composite (multiple sources) (McEachran, J.D. and J.D. Fechhelm. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. University of Texas Press, Austin.)
and processed using AI-assisted text extraction.
It may contain errors in spelling, punctuation, or formatting.
When citing, please reference the original source rather than this page.
Learn more about our species accounts.
Characters
Falcate dorsal and anal fins, emarginate caudal fin, blunt snout, broad and flat interorbital space, paired nostril in an oval depression, arch-shaped gill slit, 10-12 very short gill rakers, head length 31%-35% SL, snout length 14%-16% SL, eye diameter 8%-9% SL, pectoral fin length 18%-20% SL, uninflated body depth 22%-23% SL, pectoral fin rays 17 or 18 (rarely 15, 16, or 19), dorsal fin rays 13 or 14 (rarely 15), anal fin rays 12 or 13, dorsal lobe of caudal fin longer than ventral lobe, body covered with spinules with three basal prongs, spines on chin and belly with single basal prong, fleshy fold from pectoral fin base to caudal fin base
Dark green to brownish gray dorsally, white gray to silvery ventrally, juveniles with three or four dark saddles
Distribution
Massachusetts to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico and the Bahamas
Habitat Associations
Tropical to warm temperate Atlantic Ocean, pelagic over continental shelves, juveniles near shore and on offshore banks
Biology
Maximum known size is 600 mm TL
Inhabits inshore and near-shore areas, over sand or mud bottoms. Usually found alone or in small, loose aggregates. Adults are pelagic, but near continental margins; young are commonly found on coastal and offshore banks (Ref. 7251). Feeds on fish and shrimps (Ref. 28587). Minimum depth from Ref. 26912. Its flesh is very delicate; nevertheless, in certain region like the Pacific and the Indian Ocean, it is toxic (particularly the skin and the viscera) (Ref. 5377). Poisonous, should not be eaten (Ref. 36731).
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external. Oviparous (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2011-06-08. Resilience: Medium (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: minor commercial; gamefish.
References
Shipp 1974
Shipp 2002
Hoese and Moore 1977
Hoese and Moore 1998
Matsuura 1983w
Robins and Ray 1986
Boschung 1992
Schaldach et al. 1997
Smith 1997
Castro-Aguirre et al. 1999
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Shipp, R.L. (1981) Tetraodontidae. In W. Fischer, G. Bianchi and W.B. Scott (eds.) FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Eastern Central Atlantic; fishing areas 34, 47 (in part). Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada and FAO. Vol. 4. pag. var.
Shipp, R.L. (1990) Tetraodontidae. p. 1069-1072. In J.C. Quero, J.C. Hureau, C. Karrer, A. Post and L. Saldanha (eds.) Check-list of the fishes of the eastern tropical Atlantic (CLOFETA). JNICT, Lisbon; SEI, Paris; and UNESCO, Paris. Vol. 2.
Uyeno, T., K. Matsuura and E. Fujii (eds.) (1983) Fishes trawled off Suriname and French Guiana. Japan Marine Fishery Resource Research Center, Tokyo, Japan. 519 p.
Bianchi, G., K.E. Carpenter, J.-P. Roux, F.J. Molloy, D. Boyer and H.J. Boyer (1999) FAO species identification guide for fishery purposes. Field guide to the living marine resources of Namibia. FAO, Rome. 265p.
Figueiredo, J.L. and N.A. Menezes (2000) Manual de peixes marinhos do sudeste do Brasil. VI.Teleostei (5). Museu de Zoologia, Universidade de São Paulo. Brazil. 116 p.
Comments On Lagocephalus laevigatus