Striped burrfish facts for kids
The striped burrfish (Chilomycterus schoepfi) is a unique fish. It belongs to the same family as the porcupinefish. You can find these interesting fish in warm ocean waters.
Quick facts for kids Striped burrfish |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
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Diodontidae
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| Genus: |
Chilomycterus
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| Species: |
C. schoepfi
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| Binomial name | |
| Chilomycterus schoepfi (Walbaum, 1792)
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Contents
About the Striped Burrfish
The striped burrfish looks a bit like a ball. It has short, strong spines all over its body. These spines do not move. When the fish feels scared, it can puff up. It does this by swallowing water or air. This makes it look much bigger to predators.
What it Looks Like
The top of the burrfish is usually olive green or brown. Its belly is a pale yellow color. It has cool stripes on its back and sides. These stripes are brownish or black. They run diagonally down its body. You might also see a few big black spots. One spot is near its top fin. Another is behind its side fin. A full-grown striped burrfish can be about 10 inches long.
Where Striped Burrfish Live
You can find the striped burrfish in the western Atlantic Ocean. They live in warm, tropical areas. Their home ranges from Brazil up to Florida. They also live along the Atlantic coast of North America. Sometimes, they travel as far north as Cape Cod. In late summer and fall, they are often seen near New York. One burrfish was even found in Oyster Lake, near Matagorda Bay, Tx.
Striped Burrfish Habitat and Life Cycle
Striped burrfish lay their eggs near New Jersey in July. Young burrfish, called juveniles, are also found in the Chesapeake Bay. They spend their summers there.
What Striped Burrfish Eat
The striped burrfish enjoys a diet of small ocean creatures. They mostly eat invertebrates. This means animals without backbones.
- They love to munch on oysters.
- They also eat barnacles and mussels.
- Small crabs and hermit crabs are also on their menu.
Striped Burrfish and People
Striped burrfish are not usually caught for food. Fishermen sometimes catch them by accident. Some people dry and stuff them as interesting decorations. A few burrfish might end up in home aquariums. Sometimes, they get caught in fishing nets. If you walk on the beach, watch out for them. They can wash ashore and their spines can hurt if you step on them. Other types of burrfish and porcupinefish live in tropical waters too.
See also
In Spanish: Chilomycterus schoepfii para niños
