Tetraodontidae is the family that contains many species commonly called pufferfish, puffers, globe fish and related names. Members of this family occur in marine, brackish and freshwater habitats and are noted for their ability to inflate and for potent toxins found in many species.

Morphology

Pufferfish range from small to medium in size; a few species reach larger sizes (some exceed 50 cm). They have a distinctive beak-like dental plate formed by fused teeth (the name combines Greek for "four" and "tooth"), a compact body, and in many species an ability to inflate the body by ingesting water or air as a defensive response.

Evolution

Fossils and molecular work indicate the group diverged from related tetraodontiform fishes tens of millions of years ago, with major puffer clades separating during the Cretaceous and early Cenozoic. Fossil genera such as Eotetraodon are known from Eocene deposits.

Genera

The family contains a large number of genera (roughly 27–28 recognized genera and around 190–206 species, depending on classification and taxonomic updates). Representative genera include Arothron, Canthigaster, Sphoeroides, Takifugu and others.

Ecology & life history

Many species are marine or brackish, but several (around ~35 species) are fully freshwater and occur in disjunct tropical areas of South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Diets vary; smaller species feed on small invertebrates and algae, while larger species crack shellfish with their beak-like jaws. Some species are farmed or bred in captivity.

Poisoning

A defining human-health note: many pufferfish carry tetrodotoxin, a potent neurotoxin concentrated in some organs and tissues. Improper preparation for consumption has caused poisoning and death in some cases. The toxin is believed to arise largely from bacteria in the fishes' microbiome that produce tetrodotoxin which then accumulates in the fish.