The porcupine fish lives a charmed life in its dangerous underwater habitat. Most predators leave this fish alone, as they know it can swell up and protect itself with sharp spines that cover its body, similar to a porcupine's spines. The porcupine fish can also secrete poison into the water around it to discourage enemies from hanging around.
Clam Cruncher: The teeth in both of this animal's jaws are fused together to form hard plates. The fish uses these to crunch up clams, oysters and even hard coral.
Laid Back: The porcupine fish's scales have evolved into sharp spines. When the fish is relaxed, these scales lay back against its body. When disturbed, however, they stick out and become defensive weapons.
Prickly and Poisonous[]
Big eyes help this fish find food at night.
Most predators in the ocean steer clear of the porcupine fish and its sharp spines. When the fish is relaxed, however, inexperienced predators may view the fish as an easy meal. Even without puffing itself up, the porcupine fish has a secret weapon. Its skin and some internal organs are laced with a deadly poison. The creature can secrete this into the water to repel attackers.
Slow Lane: With fins that are tiny compared to the rest of its body, the porcupine fish is a slow swimmer. It has adapted its diet and defenses to make up for its inability to chase prey or outswim enemies.
Deep Cover: These fish normally hunt at night, near the bottom of coral reefs. If they can't find prey, porcupine fish are known to squirt water over the seabed to uncover creatures hidden in the sand.
It's Gonna Blow![]
- When not being bothered by enemies, the porcupine fish looks. like an average fish in the sea. A young dolphin spots one and thinks it may be a filling meal. The dolphin easily closes in on the slow-swimming porcupine fish.
- Sensing the danger, the porcupine fish takes several tiny gulps of water into its stomach until it expands to capacity and morphs its body into a prickly ball. The dolphin wisely stops from biting down on the dangerous spines.