TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Tetraodontiformes (Puffers and filefishes)
Family: Tetraodontidae (Puffers)
Genus/species: Carinotetraodon travancoricus
GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: Both sexes are primarily yellow with dark green to black iridescent patches on the flanks and dorsal surface. Males can also have a dark stripe down the center of their pale belly and iridescent “eye wrinkle” patterns that females do not have. Females are more rounded, tend to be a bit larger than males, and may or may not show more smallish spots between their larger dark markings.
Length up to 2.5 cm (one inch)
DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: C. travancoricus are found in freshwater rivers of Asia and India. Endemic to the Western Ghats of India
DIET IN THE WILD: The diet of dwarf pufferfish in the wild has not been reported, but other members of the genus feed on zooplankton and various benthic crustaceans and molluscs.
REPRODUCTION: Eggs are deposited and hidden in vegetation.
CONSERVATION: IUCN VULNERABLE VU
Results from habitat modifications caused by deforestation and conversion of lands in agricultural areas, increasing urbanization, and over harvesting for the pet trade.
References
California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium Water is life feeding
Ron’s flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/24236155053/in/album-72157662094208792/
fishbase www.fishbase.org/summary/Carinotetraodon-travancoricus.html
EOL www.eol.org/pages/222209/details
IUCN www.iucnredlist.org/details/links/166591/0
Arkive www.arkive.org/malabar-pufferfish/carinotetraodon-travanc…
Ron’s WordPress Shortlink http://wp.me/p1DZ4b-1Jg
Ron's Critter of the Day 