Key West Sharpnose Pufferfish

Key West snorkeling tours exists as a great opportunity for you to experience the wonders of underwater life, particularly in having first hand encounters with the beautiful population of aquatic species such as the Sharpnose Pufferfish.

Sharpnose Pufferfish, which is scientifically known as Canthigaster rostrata, is one of the smaller varieties of pufferfish. Although its size is not especially extravagant (comparable to the size of a football at an average of 12 cm), this little fish boasts of extraordinary hues that make it an expert in camouflage. The Sharpnose pufferfish actually is quite a common fish, but due to its remarkable ability to blend in, divers often overlook it.

The Sharpnose Pufferfish is characterized by a pointed snout and little fins that are positioned towards the end of its body, and its tail extends like a fan. The fish can be seen wearing a variety of colors, with shades of yellow and white being the most common, almost always accented by blue specks. A very unique detail about this specimen is the fact that its blue stripes which break off into dots along its body seem to initially radiate from its large eyes. Also, as one can assume by its name, the Sharpnose Puffer has the fascinating ability to fill up its body with water, thus increasing its size when it feels threatened. This tactic of defense helps the Sharpnose puffer fend off predators by surprising the potential attacker with its sudden domineering size.

The Sharpnose pufferfish are generally more of a territorial fish. Their territorial are defined by their neighbors, and intrusion is met immediately with aggressive behavior. Another interesting fact about Sharpnose pufferfish is their inclination to exhibit different behavorial patterns in accordance to the time of day. During the day, they forage and at night they retreat to their reef shelters.

Recreational divers should be advised not to purposely harass pufferfish to see them inflate.