Is the tiger pufferfish poisonous?

Adults carry tetrodotoxin, a potent neurotoxin, mainly in the liver and ovaries, but the toxin is acquired from their diet — newly hatched young start out non-toxic.

Why is the tiger pufferfish important to science?

It has one of the smallest known vertebrate genomes (about 350-400 million base pairs) while carrying nearly as many genes as humans, making it a useful compact model for genome research.

Where does the tiger pufferfish live?

It is found in the northwestern Pacific, western Sea of Japan, Yellow Sea, and East China Sea, schooling in bays shallower than 200 m, with Hokkaido marking its northern range limit.

Tiger Pufferfishトラフグ

Takifugu rubripesNT— Near Threatened

The tiger pufferfish, known in Japan as torafugu, is a coastal pufferfish famous both as a carefully prepared delicacy and as a genetics research model thanks to its unusually compact, gene-dense genome.

Tiger Pufferfish (reference photo) — Photo: Totti / CC BY-SA 4.0 / Source / cropped

Species Data

Classification: Tetraodontiformes / Tetraodontidae Source
Distribution: Native to the northwestern Pacific, the western Sea of Japan, the Yellow Sea, and the East China Sea, schooling in bays shallower than 200 m; its northern range limit lies around Hokkaido. Source

Did You Know?

Newly hatched juveniles are non-toxic; they accumulate tetrodotoxin in their bodies only after preying on toxic animals such as certain poisonous snails. Source
Its genome is only about 350-400 million base pairs, one of the smallest among vertebrates, yet it carries roughly the same number of genes as humans, making it a compact model organism for genetics research. Source

Where to See This Species

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Verified individual animals and facilities will be added as official information becomes available.

Conservation Story

Conservation Status

IUCNレッドリストではNT。過剰漁獲、沿岸開発による産卵・成育場の変化が保全上の課題となる。

Habitat

日本近海を含む西部太平洋の沿岸・内湾。

Threats

過剰漁獲、沿岸開発による産卵・成育場の変化

Conservation & Breeding Efforts

生息地の保全と個体群の継続的な把握
日本の水族館では近海魚展示で親しまれ、ふくらむ前の体形や力強い歯のつくりを間近で見られる。季節移動をする沿岸魚として、海と川のつながりも学べる。

Sources

ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org

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FAQ

Is the tiger pufferfish poisonous?: Adults carry tetrodotoxin, a potent neurotoxin, mainly in the liver and ovaries, but the toxin is acquired from their diet — newly hatched young start out non-toxic. Source
Why is the tiger pufferfish important to science?: It has one of the smallest known vertebrate genomes (about 350-400 million base pairs) while carrying nearly as many genes as humans, making it a useful compact model for genome research. Source
Where does the tiger pufferfish live?: It is found in the northwestern Pacific, western Sea of Japan, Yellow Sea, and East China Sea, schooling in bays shallower than 200 m, with Hokkaido marking its northern range limit. Source

Source: ja.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org