Lagocephalus laevigatus - Whats My Bait

Smooth Puffer

Lagocephalus laevigatus

Description:

Elongated and cylindrical body when deflated, spherical when inflated, that tapers down to a truncate tail. Skin is scaleless, and belly is covered in short and pointed spines. Upper half of the body appears silver or silver-blue/green, olive-green, or gray. Sides appear yellowish olive-green or golden. Belly is silver/white. Snout blunt and rounded. Jaws appear beak-like as a result of four fused plates- two on the upper jaw and two on the lower jaw. Subadults and juveniles may exhibit 3-4 dark saddles on upprt difrd. No pelvic fins.

Average Maximum Size:

99 cm (39 in)

Adults Distinguishing Characteristics:

The Smooth Puffer can be distinguished from the Striped Burrfish by a uniformly smooth dorsal side of the body without any defensive spines. In contrast to the Smooth Puffer the Striped Burrfish's defensive spines are spread widely and not restricted to the belly. The Northern Puffer differs from the Smooth Puffer in its mottled upper body pattern and row of dark blotches which run along the lower half of the body.

Juveniles Distinguishing Characteristics:

Subadult and juvenile Smooth Puffers may exhibit 3-4 distinct dark saddles on the upper side of the body, juvenile Northern Puffers instead exhibit a mottled or spotted pattern. Like adults, juvenile Striped Burrfish exhibit defensive spines across their entire bodies while the juvenile Smooth Puffer's only defensive spines are restricted to the belly.

Range:

Western and Eastern Atlantic waters

Habitat:

Juveniles nearshore waters; adults more pelagic

Notes:

Regulated Species:

Regulations Website:

Species: Lagocephalus laevigatus

Family: Tetraodontidae

Family Description: Puffer

Mouth Type: Terminal

Tail Type: Truncate

Dorsal Type: Single

Similar Species

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Northern Puffer

Striped Burrfish