269: DIODONTIDAE (BURRFISHES & PORCUPINEFISHES)
269.5 Diodon holocanthus: top: 12.5 cm; bottom: 13 cm (E. Cape).
Porcupinefish
269.6 Diodon hystrix
Linnaeus, 1758
Pen vis
Diodon hystrix Linnaeus, 1758: 335 (India); Smith, SFSA No. 1182*;
Smith & Smith, 1966: 39*; Leis, 1978: 545*.
D 14-17; A 14-16; P 21-25. Spines long, those in P axil longest. One or
more small spines on dorsum of C peduncle; 15-19 spines from snout to D
base. No tentacles. Pelagic stage (to 20 cm) resembles D. eydouxii, but has
rounded D and A.
Benthic stage grey to brown with back, sides and fins
covered with small black spots; dark gular band present.
Attains 60 cm or more. Tsitsikamma Coastal National Park
to Umtata River; probably all along our coasts. Circumtropical mostly on reefs.
269.6 Diodon hystrix: 37.5 cm (Seychelles).
269.7 Diodon liturosus
Shaw, 1804
Shortspine porcupinefish
Kortstekel-penvis
Diodon liturosus Shaw, 1804: 436 (Indian Seas); Leis, 1978: 552*.
Diodon holocanthus (non Linnaeus): Kotthaus, 1979: 38*.
906
D 14-16; A 14-16; P 21-25. Spines short, those on forehead much
shorter than P axil spines, none wholly on C peduncle; a short downwardpointing spine below front of eye; 16-21 spines from snout to D base. Tentacles similar to D. holocanthus.
Pelagic stage (to 9 cm) with spots as D. holocanthus.
Benthic individuals with light-edged dark blotches across
back and sides; small black spots on sides associated with
spine bases; dark gular band present; fins unspotted.
Attains 50 cm. Primarily on reefs; Algoa Bay to Japan,
French Polynesia and Australia.
269.7 Diodon liturosus: 44 cm (N. Mozambique).
Genus Lophodiodon Fraser-Brunner, 1943
One species.
269.8 Lophodiodon calori
(Bianconi, 1855)
PLATE 144
Fourbar porcupinefish
Vierbalk-penvis
Diodon calori Bianconi, 1855: 223, PI. 3 (Mozambique). Lophodiodon
269.8 Lophodiodon calori: top: 4.5 cm juvenile, holotype of L. nigropunctatus
(Port Alfred); middle: 7 cm; bottom: 16 cm Sl.
269.5 Diodon holocanthus: top: 12.5 cm; bottom: 13 cm (E. Cape).
Porcupinefish
269.6 Diodon hystrix
Linnaeus, 1758
Pen vis
Diodon hystrix Linnaeus, 1758: 335 (India); Smith, SFSA No. 1182*;
Smith & Smith, 1966: 39*; Leis, 1978: 545*.
D 14-17; A 14-16; P 21-25. Spines long, those in P axil longest. One or
more small spines on dorsum of C peduncle; 15-19 spines from snout to D
base. No tentacles. Pelagic stage (to 20 cm) resembles D. eydouxii, but has
rounded D and A.
Benthic stage grey to brown with back, sides and fins
covered with small black spots; dark gular band present.
Attains 60 cm or more. Tsitsikamma Coastal National Park
to Umtata River; probably all along our coasts. Circumtropical mostly on reefs.
269.6 Diodon hystrix: 37.5 cm (Seychelles).
269.7 Diodon liturosus
Shaw, 1804
Shortspine porcupinefish
Kortstekel-penvis
Diodon liturosus Shaw, 1804: 436 (Indian Seas); Leis, 1978: 552*.
Diodon holocanthus (non Linnaeus): Kotthaus, 1979: 38*.
906
D 14-16; A 14-16; P 21-25. Spines short, those on forehead much
shorter than P axil spines, none wholly on C peduncle; a short downwardpointing spine below front of eye; 16-21 spines from snout to D base. Tentacles similar to D. holocanthus.
Pelagic stage (to 9 cm) with spots as D. holocanthus.
Benthic individuals with light-edged dark blotches across
back and sides; small black spots on sides associated with
spine bases; dark gular band present; fins unspotted.
Attains 50 cm. Primarily on reefs; Algoa Bay to Japan,
French Polynesia and Australia.
269.7 Diodon liturosus: 44 cm (N. Mozambique).
Genus Lophodiodon Fraser-Brunner, 1943
One species.
269.8 Lophodiodon calori
(Bianconi, 1855)
PLATE 144
Fourbar porcupinefish
Vierbalk-penvis
Diodon calori Bianconi, 1855: 223, PI. 3 (Mozambique). Lophodiodon
269.8 Lophodiodon calori: top: 4.5 cm juvenile, holotype of L. nigropunctatus
(Port Alfred); middle: 7 cm; bottom: 16 cm Sl.