Pufferfish

The blowfish, swellfish or pufferfish is a fish of the family Tetraodontidae (order Tetraodontiformes) named after its ability inflate itself to several times its normal size by swallowing water or air when threatened. The same adaptation is found in the related Porcupinefish, which also have spines. Puffers are also called blowfish or balloonfish.

Pufferfish accumulate the poison Tetrodotoxin from a symbiotic bacterium, which makes them highly poisonous even to humans. Despite this they are prized as a delicacy in Japan, where fugu is carefully prepared by removing the poisonous skin and organs and served as sushi or sashimi.

The pufferfish has the smallest genome of all known vertebrates.

The Blowfish encryption algorithm is named after the blowfish.

External Links

• Puffer Fish Website
• Project Puffer