Their diet consists mostly of algae, mollusks, invertebrates and sometimes crustaceans. Depending on the species the fugu can achieve an almost perfect spherical shape. The extremely elastic stomach then expands. Next, a branchiostegal ray (a modified gill arch) pushes the water down the esophagus into the stomach. This valve flaps upward and covers the entire mouth of the fish. Then, it seals its mouth using a special valve at the bottom of the mouth. A series of things happen when a pufferfish inflates: First, the pufferfish fills its mouth with water. In the event of danger, the fish inflates itself by filling its extremely elastic stomach with water (or air when outside of the water) until the fish is almost spherical (hence the name blowfish or pufferfish). Nevertheless, these fish are very curious and active, and in some cases even aggressive against other fugu or other fish. As a result, they are rarely found in open water and prefer to stay relatively close to the sea bed where they can explore complex environments such as oyster beds, seagrass meadows, and rocky reefs. The pear-shaped Takifugu, like all pufferfish, are not fast swimmers as they mainly use their pectoral fins for propulsion, but they are very manoeuvrable and able to hover, swim backwards, and change direction much more quickly than most other types of fish. Takifugu rubripes serves as a model organism in biological research. ![]() Most species in the genus are not considered threatened, but there are two notable exceptions: the critically endangered Takifugu chinensis and the endangered Takifugu plagiocellatus. Two exceptions are the anadromous Takifugu obscurus and the Takifugu ocellatus, which lives in coastal marine waters but migrates into fresh water to spawn in rivers. Although several are euryhaline (can adapt to various salinities) to some extent, most are unable to live in freshwater. Most species are restricted to salt and brackish waters of the northwest Pacific, but a few occur more widely in the Indo-Pacific region or in freshwater of Asia. There are 25 species belonging to the genus Takifugu. The fish is also featured prominently in Japanese art and culture.ĭistribution and conservation status There is currently no antidote, and the standard medical approach is to try to support the respiratory and circulatory system until the effect of the poison wears off. The poison paralyzes the muscles while the victim stays fully conscious, and eventually dies from asphyxiation. Every year a number of people die because they underestimate the amount of poison in the consumed fish parts. But because small amounts of the poison give a special desired sensation on the tongue, these parts are considered the most delicious by some gourmets. Therefore, only specially licensed chefs can prepare and sell fugu to the public, and the consumption of the liver and ovaries is forbidden. The fish contains lethal amounts of the poison tetrodotoxin in the internal organs, especially the liver and the ovaries, but also in the skin and the testes. ![]() ![]() The fish is highly toxic, but despite this-or perhaps because of it-it is considered a delicacy in Japan. These defenses allow the fish to actively explore their environment without much fear of being attacked. The fish defend themselves by inflating their bodies to several times normal size and by poisoning their predators. Their diet consists mostly of algae, molluscs, invertebrates and sometimes crustaceans. There are 25 species belonging to the genus Takifugu and most of these are native to salt and brackish waters of the northwest Pacific, but a few species are found in freshwater of Asia or more widely in the Indo-Pacific region. ![]() Takifugu is a genus of pufferfish, often better known by the Japanese name fugu ( 河豚, lit.
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