The striped burrfish is found in shallow water over seagrass beds and reefs, all along the Eastern Seaboard.
  • Size

    Up to 11 inches (28 cm)
  • Diet

    Small marine invertebrates
  • Range

    Western Atlantic Ocean
  • Habitat

    Seagrass beds and reef environments in coastal waters

Physical Characteristics

  • Coloration is light tan to yellowish brown with many darker, wavy stripes running up and down along the back and sides. Some individuals also have large dark spots behind the dorsal and pectoral fins. The body is covered in short, sharp spines.
  • Maximum length of about 11 inches (28 cm).

Animal Fact

The striped burrfish is sometimes called a pufferfish – it can take in water and inflate its body into a large ball to deter predators!

Diet / Feeding

  • Diet consists primarily of small marine invertebrates, but will occasionally graze on algae.
  • Feeds by using its beak to crush its prey. May consume prey whole.

Range / Habitat

  • Occurs in the Western Atlantic from Nova Scotia and Maine as well as the Bahamas and the Gulf of Mexico to Brazil.
  • Found in seagrass beds and reef environments in coastal waters at depths of 36 feet (11 m).

Reproduction & Growth

  • Oviparous, or egg-laying species. Believed to spawn at night.

Conservation Status

  • “Least Concern” on the IUCN Red List.

Additional Information

  • Able to take in water to greatly inflate the body into a spike-covered ball as a defense against predators.

Sources

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