Arothron is a genus of pufferfish that belongs to the family Tetraodontidae. These species are sometimes kept in aquaria.
Distribution
They have a wide range of distribution being found in warm parts of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean. They are easily distinguishable from other genera of pufferfish through several characteristics. The first is a single lateral line on the sides of their bodies. Their nostrils have the appearance of an upraised cup with two fleshy flaps. They are easily visible to the naked eye.
Species
There are currently 14 recognized species in this genus:
- Arothron caeruleopunctatus <small>Matsuura, 1994</small> (Blue-spotted puffer)
- Arothron carduus <small>(Cantor, 1849)</small>
- Arothron diadematus <small>(Rüppell, 1829)</small> (Masked puffer)
- Arothron firmamentum <small>(Temminck & Schlegel, 1850)</small> (Starry puffer)
- Arothron hispidus <small>(Linnaeus, 1758)</small> (White-spotted puffer)
- Arothron immaculatus <small>(Bloch & J. G. Schneider, 1801)</small> (Immaculate puffer)
- Arothron inconditus <small>J. L. B. Smith, 1958</small> (Belly-striped puffer)
- Arothron manilensis <small>(Marion de Procé, 1822)</small> (Narrow-lined puffer)
- Arothron mappa <small>(Lesson, 1831)</small> (Map puffer)
- Arothron meleagris <small>(Anonymous, referred to Lacépède, 1798)</small> (Guineafowl puffer)
- Arothron multilineatus <small>Matsuura, 2016</small> (Many-lined puffer)
- Arothron nigropunctatus <small>(Bloch & J. G. Schneider, 1801)</small> (Black-spotted puffer)
- Arothron reticularis <small>(Bloch & J. G. Schneider, 1801)</small> (Reticulated puffer)
- Arothron stellatus <small>(Anonymous, referred to Lacépède, 1798)</small> (Stellate puffer)
;Synonyms
- Arothron aerostaticus <small>(Jenyns, 1842)</small> valid as Arothron stellatus
- Arothron gillbanksii <small>(Clarke, 1897)</small> valid as Arothron firmamentum
- Arothron leopardus <small>(Day, 1878)</small> valid as Chelonodon leopardus
- Arothron perspicillaris <small>(Rüppell, 1829)</small> valid as Arothron hispidus