(1988) MiNr. 172Dl ** - Marshall Islands - Fishes - White-spotted Shearwater (Arothron hispidus)

Arothron hispidus - a fascinating inhabitant of tropical seas

The white-spotted tetrapod (Arothron hispidus) belongs to the tetrapod family (Tetraodontidae) and is distributed in tropical and subtropical seas around the world. It is found mainly in the Indian and Pacific Oceans, from the coast of East Africa to the west coast of America. It prefers shallow lagoons, reefs and sandy bottoms to a depth of approximately 50 metres.

Morphology and identification features

The white-spotted squid can reach lengths of up to 50 cm. The body is robust, cylindrical and covered with small spines. The characteristic feature is the light grey to olive green colour with numerous white spots scattered over the body. The head is relatively large, with strong jaws equipped with four massive teeth used for crushing hard food such as crustaceans and molluscs.

Lifestyle and food

This species of quadruped is mostly solitary and active during the day. Its diet consists mainly of crustaceans, molluscs, sea urchins and smaller fish. Thanks to its strong jaws, it can crack open the hard shells of marine animals. When searching for food, it often moves close to coral reefs and sandy areas, where it uses its good eyesight to locate prey.

Defence Mechanisms and Toxicity

Like other tetrapods, Arothron hispidus possesses a defense mechanism in the form of the ability to inflate its body several times its normal size. In this way, it wards off predators that might attack it. In addition, some of its tissues contain the poisonous substance tetrodotoxin, which is highly toxic to most predators and humans. It is nevertheless consumed in some parts of the world, but its preparation requires specialist knowledge.

Importance and conservation

Although the white-spotted quahog is not directly endangered, its population can be negatively affected by changes in coral reefs, fishing and marine habitat degradation. Due to its unusual appearance and behaviour, it is often sought after by divers and marine wildlife enthusiasts. Protecting its natural habitat is key to maintaining stable populations.