TETRAODONTIDAE {Puffer fish) 



DIODONTIDAE [Porcupine fish) 



Tetradonts, generally called Puffers, are not represented by 

 many species in the Red Sea. When threatened they swell 

 up like balloons. Since it is rather unpleasant handling their 

 thorny skin, and since their only means of defence is to swell 

 up and raise their bristles, one sure way of catching them is 

 to go underwater wearing suitable gloves. 



The only member of the diodont family that we met was 

 the Diodon istrix. This fish also swells and erects its spikes 

 but these are not a down of prickles, as with the puffers, but 

 a collection of daggers. It is inadvisable therefore to try to 

 capture a porcupine fish even with gloves. A gun is more 

 effective. 



It is edible immediately after it has died, but it rapidly 

 putrefies. It is said that in the Far East porcupine fish are 

 sold alive in the markets to guarantee their freshness. The 

 rapid putrefaction may be due to the fact that the gases 

 which the animal produces under the stimulus of fear, 

 spread throughout the body. 



276 



