26H: TETRAODONTIDAE (BLAASOPS)
268.8 Arothron stellatus
(Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
PLATE 142
Star blaasop
Ster-blaasop
Tetrodon lagocephalus Var. stellatus Bloch & Schneider, 180 I: 503
(Mauritius). Arothron stellatus: Smith, SFSA No. 1205*; Shen, Lim &
Ting, 1975: 161*; Tyler, 1980: 304*, 316*, 332*, 339*. Arothron aerostaticus: Smith, SFSA No. 1206*; 1958: 158.
o 10-12; A 10-11; P 17-19. The juveniles are firm, almost rubbery, but
in adults the body is flabby and heavy.
Considerable changes in colour patterns occur in this
species: not only do the juveniles have the belly with dark
stripes, which become spots in adults, but spots on the fins
of adults can be present or absent. Markings remain on
preservation. Attains at least 90 cm. Indo-West Pacific,
occasionally reaches Knysna.
Genus Canthigaster Swainson, 1839
Body and head somewhat compressed; single inconspicuous nostril; LL usually not apparent; C truncate or
slightly rounded; head and body with scattered tiny prickles
evident when body inflated. These puffers can raise up a
ridge of skin along the midline of the back and belly.
Allen and Randall (1977) recognise 22 species from the
Indian and Pacific oceans: 2 endemic to Red Sea, 9 in
Pacific, and of the 11 species known from the Indian Ocean,
C. investigatoris (2 specimens from Andaman Ids.) and C.
tyleri (Indian Ocean islands) have not yet been found here.
Although the classification of this genus depends mainly on
colour, and illustrations are given of all species, Allen and
Randall's key is adapted to the 9 species from our area. C.
natalensis (Gunther, 1870) was recognised as a valid species
by Allen and Randall (1977), but it is here regarded as a
synonym of C. amboinensis.
KEY TO SPECIES
la 011-12; A II ................................................. C. amboinensis
Ib 08-10; A 8-10 .................................................................. 2
2a C with spots or vertical lines (entire, wavy or
broken) .............................................................. C. solandri
2b C without spots or vertical lines ............................................ 3
3a Upper portion of head and body with 2-4 dark bars,
wider than pale inters paces ................................................. 4
3b Upper portion of head and body without bars.......................... 5
4a 1st 2 body bars continue below middle of sides;
bar on head largely behind interorbital; 0 9
(rarely 10) .......................................................... C. valentini
4b 1 st 2 body bars cnd at middle of side; bar on head
confined largely to interorbital; 09-10 ...................... C. coronata
5a Side of body with 1 or 2 dark longitudinal bands
(sometimes fragmented) ..................................................... 6
5b Side of body without longitudinal bands ................................. 7
898
6a Upper back more or less uniform brown; lor 2
longitudinal bands reach snout; A 9 (see also 8b)
C. smithae
6b Upper back with vermiculated pattern; longitudinal
bands join round front of gill slit ............................... C. rivlIlata
7a Body with uniform pattern of rounded white,
bluish, brown or grey spots, largest up to half
pupil size, usually more than 12 from 0 origin
to A origin; back generally same colour as sides;
dark spot or ocellus (sometimes only partially
developed) frequently present at 0 base ............. C. janthinopterus
7b Body without uniform pattern of rounded spots;
back generally darker; 0 9-10; A 8-9 .................................
8
8a P 15-16; less than 30 small brown dots on side of C
peduncle; dark spot or ocellus present at 0 base .......... C. bennetli
8b P 16-17; no spots on side of C peduncle; no blotch
at base of 0 ......................................................... C. smithae
268.9 Canthigaster amboinensis
(Bleeker, 1865)
PLATES 135 & 140
Spotted toby
Gespikkelde tobie
Psilonotlls amboinensis Bleeker, 1865 : 180 (Ambon). Tetrodon amboinensis Var. natalensis Gunther, 1870: 303 (Natal). Callfhigaster amboinensis: Smith, SFSA No. 1211; Allen & Randall, 1977: 499*; Ty)er,
1980: 311 *. Canthigaster natalensis: Allen & Randall, 1977: 500*.
011-12; All; P 16-17.
Colour in alcohol: brown, generally with numerous pale
spots with dark centres and some dark spots between the
others; lines on head and spots on cheeks dark or white; D,
A & P pale with dark bases; C brown usually with pale or
dark spots on base. Attains 15 cm. Lower reaches of surge
zone; one of the faster swimming species of the genus; eats
mostly small invertebrates. Tropical Indo-Pacific to eastern
Pacific and in our area south to Durban.
268.10 Canthigaster bennetti
(Bleeker, 1854)
PLATE 143
Exquisite toby
Mooi tobie
Tropidichthys Bennetli Bleeker, 1854: 504 (Amboina). Tropidichthys
oxylophills Smith, 1931: 159, PI. 16 (Port Alfred). Canthigaster bennetli:
Smith, 1961: 573, No. 121Oa; Allen & Randall, 1977: 488*.
09-10; A 8-9; P 15-16.
Colour in alcohol: brownish above, paler below, brown
and white spots on head, back and sides; ocellus at base ofD
sometimes indistinct; lines from eye brown, also several
broken vertical lines just behind mouth; faint brown stripe
from chin to anus; upper C peduncle with one or more
indistinct stripes (somtimes broken). C pale, sometimes
brownish basally. Attains 10 cm. In shallow sandy areas
down to 10 m; eats mainly algae but also sponges and other
invertebrates. Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to Port
Alfred.
268.8 Arothron stellatus
(Bloch & Schneider, 1801)
PLATE 142
Star blaasop
Ster-blaasop
Tetrodon lagocephalus Var. stellatus Bloch & Schneider, 180 I: 503
(Mauritius). Arothron stellatus: Smith, SFSA No. 1205*; Shen, Lim &
Ting, 1975: 161*; Tyler, 1980: 304*, 316*, 332*, 339*. Arothron aerostaticus: Smith, SFSA No. 1206*; 1958: 158.
o 10-12; A 10-11; P 17-19. The juveniles are firm, almost rubbery, but
in adults the body is flabby and heavy.
Considerable changes in colour patterns occur in this
species: not only do the juveniles have the belly with dark
stripes, which become spots in adults, but spots on the fins
of adults can be present or absent. Markings remain on
preservation. Attains at least 90 cm. Indo-West Pacific,
occasionally reaches Knysna.
Genus Canthigaster Swainson, 1839
Body and head somewhat compressed; single inconspicuous nostril; LL usually not apparent; C truncate or
slightly rounded; head and body with scattered tiny prickles
evident when body inflated. These puffers can raise up a
ridge of skin along the midline of the back and belly.
Allen and Randall (1977) recognise 22 species from the
Indian and Pacific oceans: 2 endemic to Red Sea, 9 in
Pacific, and of the 11 species known from the Indian Ocean,
C. investigatoris (2 specimens from Andaman Ids.) and C.
tyleri (Indian Ocean islands) have not yet been found here.
Although the classification of this genus depends mainly on
colour, and illustrations are given of all species, Allen and
Randall's key is adapted to the 9 species from our area. C.
natalensis (Gunther, 1870) was recognised as a valid species
by Allen and Randall (1977), but it is here regarded as a
synonym of C. amboinensis.
KEY TO SPECIES
la 011-12; A II ................................................. C. amboinensis
Ib 08-10; A 8-10 .................................................................. 2
2a C with spots or vertical lines (entire, wavy or
broken) .............................................................. C. solandri
2b C without spots or vertical lines ............................................ 3
3a Upper portion of head and body with 2-4 dark bars,
wider than pale inters paces ................................................. 4
3b Upper portion of head and body without bars.......................... 5
4a 1st 2 body bars continue below middle of sides;
bar on head largely behind interorbital; 0 9
(rarely 10) .......................................................... C. valentini
4b 1 st 2 body bars cnd at middle of side; bar on head
confined largely to interorbital; 09-10 ...................... C. coronata
5a Side of body with 1 or 2 dark longitudinal bands
(sometimes fragmented) ..................................................... 6
5b Side of body without longitudinal bands ................................. 7
898
6a Upper back more or less uniform brown; lor 2
longitudinal bands reach snout; A 9 (see also 8b)
C. smithae
6b Upper back with vermiculated pattern; longitudinal
bands join round front of gill slit ............................... C. rivlIlata
7a Body with uniform pattern of rounded white,
bluish, brown or grey spots, largest up to half
pupil size, usually more than 12 from 0 origin
to A origin; back generally same colour as sides;
dark spot or ocellus (sometimes only partially
developed) frequently present at 0 base ............. C. janthinopterus
7b Body without uniform pattern of rounded spots;
back generally darker; 0 9-10; A 8-9 .................................
8
8a P 15-16; less than 30 small brown dots on side of C
peduncle; dark spot or ocellus present at 0 base .......... C. bennetli
8b P 16-17; no spots on side of C peduncle; no blotch
at base of 0 ......................................................... C. smithae
268.9 Canthigaster amboinensis
(Bleeker, 1865)
PLATES 135 & 140
Spotted toby
Gespikkelde tobie
Psilonotlls amboinensis Bleeker, 1865 : 180 (Ambon). Tetrodon amboinensis Var. natalensis Gunther, 1870: 303 (Natal). Callfhigaster amboinensis: Smith, SFSA No. 1211; Allen & Randall, 1977: 499*; Ty)er,
1980: 311 *. Canthigaster natalensis: Allen & Randall, 1977: 500*.
011-12; All; P 16-17.
Colour in alcohol: brown, generally with numerous pale
spots with dark centres and some dark spots between the
others; lines on head and spots on cheeks dark or white; D,
A & P pale with dark bases; C brown usually with pale or
dark spots on base. Attains 15 cm. Lower reaches of surge
zone; one of the faster swimming species of the genus; eats
mostly small invertebrates. Tropical Indo-Pacific to eastern
Pacific and in our area south to Durban.
268.10 Canthigaster bennetti
(Bleeker, 1854)
PLATE 143
Exquisite toby
Mooi tobie
Tropidichthys Bennetli Bleeker, 1854: 504 (Amboina). Tropidichthys
oxylophills Smith, 1931: 159, PI. 16 (Port Alfred). Canthigaster bennetli:
Smith, 1961: 573, No. 121Oa; Allen & Randall, 1977: 488*.
09-10; A 8-9; P 15-16.
Colour in alcohol: brownish above, paler below, brown
and white spots on head, back and sides; ocellus at base ofD
sometimes indistinct; lines from eye brown, also several
broken vertical lines just behind mouth; faint brown stripe
from chin to anus; upper C peduncle with one or more
indistinct stripes (somtimes broken). C pale, sometimes
brownish basally. Attains 10 cm. In shallow sandy areas
down to 10 m; eats mainly algae but also sponges and other
invertebrates. Tropical Indo-West Pacific south to Port
Alfred.