Lagocephalus spadiceus (Richardson, 1845)
Half-smooth golden pufferfish
Lagocephalus spadiceus
photo by Tran, H.H.

Family:  Tetraodontidae (Puffers), subfamily: Tetraodontinae
Max. size:  37.4 cm TL (male/unsexed); 43.1 cm TL (female); max.weight: 1,075.0 g
Environment:  demersal; brackish; marine, oceanodromous
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea, South Africa, Australia. Introduced (Lessepsian) in eastern Mediterranean, Israel, Lebanon, Iskenderun, Mersin, Aegean Sea.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-13; Anal soft rays: 10-12
Biology:  Essentially an inhabitant of marine waters, but enters the mouths of rivers (Ref. 4833). Several organs are very toxic, potentially lethal to humans (Ref. 43448).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 08 June 2011 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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