Northern puffer facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Northern puffer |
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The northern puffer (scientific name: Sphoeroides spheroides) is a type of fish. It belongs to the Tetraodontidae family, also known as pufferfishes. You can find this fish along the Atlantic coast of North America.
Unlike many other pufferfish, the northern puffer's meat is safe to eat. However, its internal organs can contain toxins. Some northern puffers in Florida have also shown high levels of toxins in their skin. People in the Chesapeake Bay area often call them sugar toads. They are considered a tasty food there. During the Second World War, many people ate northern puffers due to food shortages. This led to a big fishing industry for them, which was most active in the 1960s. In other places, like the Northeast, people simply call them "blowfish" or "chicken of the sea." Sometimes, they are also sold as "sea squab."
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What Does the Northern Puffer Look Like?
The northern puffer has a unique club-like shape. Adult fish have small spines all over their body. They also have a tiny mouth that looks like a beak. Their back is usually gray to brown, and their belly is yellow to white. You can see tiny black spots, about 1 millimeter wide, scattered on their colored skin, especially on their cheeks. The lower sides of their body have a row of black, bar-like marks. A small fin is located far back on their body, close to their tail.
Like other pufferfish, the northern puffer can "puff up" into a ball. It does this to protect itself from danger. It sucks in water into a special chamber near its stomach. If it is taken out of the water, it will puff up with air instead. Northern puffers can grow up to 36 centimeters (about 14 inches) long. However, they are usually around 20 centimeters (about 8 inches) long.
Where Do Northern Puffers Live?
The northern puffer lives in bays, estuaries, and calm coastal waters. They can be found at depths from 10 to 183 meters (about 33 to 600 feet). Their home range stretches along the northwest Atlantic Ocean. This includes areas from Florida in the U.S. all the way up to Newfoundland in Canada.
What Do Northern Puffers Eat?
Northern puffers mostly eat shellfish. Sometimes, they also eat other small fish. They use their strong, beak-like mouth to pull shellfish out of their shells. They can even break shells to get their meal. They are known to attack blue crabs. They will blow water under the crab to flip it over. Then, they attack the crab's soft underside before it can turn itself back.
Northern Puffer Life Cycle
Northern puffers lay their eggs from May to August. They do this in shallow water, usually over sandy or muddy bottoms. Their eggs are sticky and attach to surfaces. The male pufferfish guards the eggs until they hatch.
