ALL YOU EVER NEEDED TO KNOW ABOUT Pufferfish

PUFFERFISH ARE TOXIC WATER 'balloons' that know how to defend themselves against predators.

- JO PRICE

But their impressive arsenal isn't the only thing that's fascinating about them. They have evolved a beak-like mouth and some of the most unusual teeth you'll see underwater.

Some are even sand artists – their beautiful seabed creations puzzled scientists until 2011, when the mystery was solved.

Where do pufferfish live?

Pufferfish are primarily found in warm tropical and subtropical waters but some live in brackish and even fresh waters.

How big are pufferfish?

The largest species of pufferfish is the giant freshwater pufferfish (Tetraodon mbu), which is found in Africa and can grow to more than 60cm long. The smallest species is the dwarf pufferfish (Carinotetraodon travancoricus), which lives in India and is approximately 2.5cm long.

Why are they so deadly?

Pufferfish are highly dangerous to eat as most species contain tetrodotoxin (TTX), a lethal poison acquired from certain bacteria in their diet. The toxin accumulates in their liver, gonads, skin and intestines. Pufferfish themselves are immune to TTX because of a genetic mutation that prevents the toxin from affecting their nerves. Some females even coat their eggs with TTX to deter predators.

What does pufferfish poison do?