Takifugu niphobles Spawning | Grass Puffer

Depicted here is spawning of grass puffers (Takifugu niphobles), a small species of pufferfish native to the northwest Pacific. The large female on the right has released eggs and a male has fertilized. There is a smaller male visible trying to flip into position to fertilize as well. This species has the unusual habit of spawning on land. At certain times of the year, large numbers in shallow water at high tide. When larger females beach themselves to lay eggs, males follow to fertilize. The fish rely on waves to take them ashore and return them to the ocean. This is the only puffer species known to do this.

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Image Size: 7230x4820 / 100.0MB; https://www.photoshelter.com/support/license#rm; https://www.tony-wu.com/contact-tony-wu; Bony Fish Pufferfish Animalia Chordata Osteichthyes Actinopterygii Tetraodontiformes Tetraodontidae Takifugu niphobles Grass Puffer Kusa-fugu Reproduction Spawning Pacific Japan Kanagawa Prefecture
Contained in galleries: Marine Life Reproduction, Fish Photos, Marine Life | Japan

Depicted here is spawning of grass puffers (Takifugu niphobles), a small species of pufferfish native to the northwest Pacific. The large female on the right has released eggs and a male has fertilized. There is a smaller male visible trying to flip into position to fertilize as well. This species has the unusual habit of spawning on land. At certain times of the year, large numbers in shallow water at high tide. When larger females beach themselves to lay eggs, males follow to fertilize. The fish rely on waves to take them ashore and return them to the ocean. This is the only puffer species known to do this.