Ballonfish, Birdbeak burrfish, Orbicular burrfish, Porcupinefish, Rounded porcupinefish, Spiny blaasop, Porc-épic bécard, Porc-épine bécard

Distribution
Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Philippines, north to southern Japan, south to Australia and New Caledonia. Southeast Atlantic: south coast of South Africa.


Short description
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-13; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 10 - 12. Adults brown to grey with blotches and clusters of black spots on back and sides; pelagic juveniles covered with black spots.

Biology
Inhabit clear protected reefs with sponge and algal habitats. Often in large sponges during the day. Usually over sand and mud bottoms to at least 170 m. Occasionally on reefs. Active at night, feeding among reefs. A nocturnal species that presumably feeds on hard-shelled invertebrates.

Synonymes
Atinga orbicularis coeruleus (le Danois, 1959)
Chilomycterus orbicularis (Bloch, 1785)
Chilomycterus parcomaculatus (von Bonde, 1923)
Diodon caeruleus (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)
Diodon orbicularis (Bloch, 1785)