CANTHIGASTER AMBOINENSIS - (BLEEKER, 1864)
Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Tetraodontiformes (Order) > Tetraodontoidei (Suborder) > Tetraodontidae (Family) > Canthigaster (Genus)
Canthigaster d'Amboine, Ambon toby, Ambon Puffer, Ambon sharpnose puffer, Fingerprint toby, Spider-eye puffer, Spotted toby, Gespikkelde tobie, Gomafukinchaku fugu, ゴマフキンチャクフグ, 安邦尖鼻魨,
Synonymes
Canthigaster polyophthalmus (Pietschmann, 1938)
Psilonotus amboinensis (Bleeker, 1864)
Tropidichthys oahuensis (Jenkins, 1903)
Tropidichthys psegma (Jordan & Evermann, 1903)
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Description
Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-12 (usually: 12); Anal soft rays: 10-11 (usually: 11); Pectoral fin rays: 16-17 (usually: 17); Body depth: 2.3-2.5 in SL, head length: 2.4-2.9 in SL, tip of snout to dorsal origin: 1.3-1.4 in SL, to anal origin: 1.1-1.3 in SL; Snout: 1.4-1.6 in HL, postorbital length of head: 3.5-4.1 in HL, eye: 3.8-5.4 in HL, interorbital: 2.9-3.6 in HL, depth of caudal peduncle: 2.0-2.5 in HL, length of caudal peduncle: 1.6-2.0 in Hl, of middle caudal rays: 1.3-1.6 in HL. Max. length: 15.0 cm TL. Depth range: 1 - 16 m.
Color
Head and sides with numerous pale spots with dark centres; Snout crossed by several dark lines; Eye with several dark lines radiating from the posterior edge and arching dorsally, not joining those of opposite side; Cheeks with parallel rows of small blackish dots forming lines which curve ventrally towards throat; Dorsal, anal, and pectoral fins blackish at base, remainder of fin pale brown or reddish; Dorsal fin brown.
Etymology
The origine of the word Canthigaster is not given by William John Swainson (1789-1855) in the "The natural history and classification of fishes, amphibians, and reptiles, or monocardian animals - 1839".
Canthigaster:
1) from Greek, kantheliai, kanthiai = large or big basket + from Greek, gaster = stomach, belly.
2) from Latin, canthus origin a Greek word, kanthos = the outer or inner corner of the eye, where the lids meet + from Greek, gaster = stomach, belly.
3) Canthus or Canthos was an Argonauts. The Argonauts were a band of heroes in Greek mythology, who in the years before the Trojan War, around 1300 BCE, accompanied Jason to Colchis in his quest to find the Golden Fleece. Their name comes from their ship, Argo, named after its builder, Argus. "Argonauts" literally means "Argo sailors".
amboinensis: named for Ambon Island. Ambon Island is part of the Molucca Islands of Indonesia.
Original description: Psilonotus amboinensis Bleeker, 1864 - Type locality: Ambon Island, Molucca Islands, Indonesia.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: South Africa, East Africa, Seychelles, Comoros, Madagascar and western Mascarenes east to Hawaiian Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Great Barrier Reef (Queensland, Australia), New Caledonia; Waifs reaching Galápagos Archipelago (eastern Pacific).
Biology
Inhabit shallow water, often subjected to surge. Juveniles secretive and remain in holes of outer reef flat and reef margin. Adults on shallow reef flats in high energy zones to about 10 meters depth. Benthopelagic. Feed mainly on algae, but also takes polychaetes, sea urchins, brittle stars, mollusks, tunicates, corals, crustaceans and sponges. Oviparous.
Similar species
Canthigaster janthinoptera (Bleeker, 1855) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here). Small juveniles (under about 35 mm Sl) are similar in appearance.
Canthigaster natalensis (Günther, 1870) - Reported from Southwestern Indian Ocean: East Africa and South Africa, Mozambique Channel, western Mascarenes.
Synonymes
Canthigaster polyophthalmus (Pietschmann, 1938)
Psilonotus amboinensis (Bleeker, 1864)
Tropidichthys oahuensis (Jenkins, 1903)
Tropidichthys psegma (Jordan & Evermann, 1903)
-----------------------------------------
Description
Dorsal soft rays (total): 10-12 (usually: 12); Anal soft rays: 10-11 (usually: 11); Pectoral fin rays: 16-17 (usually: 17); Body depth: 2.3-2.5 in SL, head length: 2.4-2.9 in SL, tip of snout to dorsal origin: 1.3-1.4 in SL, to anal origin: 1.1-1.3 in SL; Snout: 1.4-1.6 in HL, postorbital length of head: 3.5-4.1 in HL, eye: 3.8-5.4 in HL, interorbital: 2.9-3.6 in HL, depth of caudal peduncle: 2.0-2.5 in HL, length of caudal peduncle: 1.6-2.0 in Hl, of middle caudal rays: 1.3-1.6 in HL. Max. length: 15.0 cm TL. Depth range: 1 - 16 m.
Color
Head and sides with numerous pale spots with dark centres; Snout crossed by several dark lines; Eye with several dark lines radiating from the posterior edge and arching dorsally, not joining those of opposite side; Cheeks with parallel rows of small blackish dots forming lines which curve ventrally towards throat; Dorsal, anal, and pectoral fins blackish at base, remainder of fin pale brown or reddish; Dorsal fin brown.
Etymology
The origine of the word Canthigaster is not given by William John Swainson (1789-1855) in the "The natural history and classification of fishes, amphibians, and reptiles, or monocardian animals - 1839".
Canthigaster:
1) from Greek, kantheliai, kanthiai = large or big basket + from Greek, gaster = stomach, belly.
2) from Latin, canthus origin a Greek word, kanthos = the outer or inner corner of the eye, where the lids meet + from Greek, gaster = stomach, belly.
3) Canthus or Canthos was an Argonauts. The Argonauts were a band of heroes in Greek mythology, who in the years before the Trojan War, around 1300 BCE, accompanied Jason to Colchis in his quest to find the Golden Fleece. Their name comes from their ship, Argo, named after its builder, Argus. "Argonauts" literally means "Argo sailors".
amboinensis: named for Ambon Island. Ambon Island is part of the Molucca Islands of Indonesia.
Original description: Psilonotus amboinensis Bleeker, 1864 - Type locality: Ambon Island, Molucca Islands, Indonesia.
Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: South Africa, East Africa, Seychelles, Comoros, Madagascar and western Mascarenes east to Hawaiian Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Great Barrier Reef (Queensland, Australia), New Caledonia; Waifs reaching Galápagos Archipelago (eastern Pacific).
Biology
Inhabit shallow water, often subjected to surge. Juveniles secretive and remain in holes of outer reef flat and reef margin. Adults on shallow reef flats in high energy zones to about 10 meters depth. Benthopelagic. Feed mainly on algae, but also takes polychaetes, sea urchins, brittle stars, mollusks, tunicates, corals, crustaceans and sponges. Oviparous.
Similar species
Canthigaster janthinoptera (Bleeker, 1855) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here). Small juveniles (under about 35 mm Sl) are similar in appearance.
Canthigaster natalensis (Günther, 1870) - Reported from Southwestern Indian Ocean: East Africa and South Africa, Mozambique Channel, western Mascarenes.