Record of the pufferfish, Torquigener albomaculosus from the east coast of Okinawa-jima Island, Ryukyu Islands with comments on its aquarium behavior in an aquarium

Abstract

A specimen of the pufferfish Torquigener albomaculosus, previously recorded in depths of 10–30 m off Amami-oshima Island, northern Ryukyu Islands, was collected at 100m depth by hook and line off Hamahika-jima Island (off east coast of Okinawa-jima Island) and maintained for 136 days in an aquarium whilst swimming and eye closing behavior were observed. Unlike some other pufferfishes, which close their eyes by twisting the encircling skin, T. albomaculosus closes employing a vertical “blink”, similar to tetrapods.