Grass puffer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grass puffer |
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The grass puffer (Takifugu niphobles), also called Kusa-fugu, is a fascinating type of fish. It belongs to the pufferfish family. These fish are quite common in the northwest Pacific Ocean. You can find them near the coasts of China (including Hong Kong and Taiwan), Japan, Korea, the Philippines, and Vietnam.
Grass puffers usually live in coastal waters. They can be found as deep as 20 feet (6.1 m). Sometimes, they swim into brackish water, which is a mix of fresh and salt water. They have even been seen briefly in freshwater! A grass puffer can grow up to 6 inches (15 cm) long.
How Grass Puffers Reproduce
Grass puffers have a very unusual way of having babies. Large groups of them gather at certain beaches during high tide. They use an incoming wave to push themselves onto the land. Once on the sand, the male and female fish release their eggs and sperm. This is how the eggs get fertilized.
After this, the fish quickly return to the water. The fertilized eggs might get washed back into the sea. But sometimes, they stay on land under rocks. If they stay on land, the eggs will only hatch when the next high tide covers them with water. This unique breeding method is not seen in any other pufferfish. However, two other fish, the capelin and grunion, also breed this way.
Grass Puffers and People
People often catch grass puffers near beaches, docks, and piers. They use different kinds of bait, like worms, shrimp, or small pieces of fish. These fish are popular for children to catch. Some people even keep them as pets.
However, it's very important to know that grass puffers are dangerous to eat. Their insides contain a very strong poison called tetrodotoxin. This poison can be deadly to humans. So, even though they are fun to catch, you should never eat a grass puffer. They are not usually fished for food on purpose. But sometimes, they are caught by accident during fugu fishing, which targets other types of pufferfish.
See also
- finepatterned puffer
