Chelonodon patoca ( Hamilton and Buchanan, 1822 )

Veeruraj, Anguchamy, Arumugam, Muthuvel, Ajithkumar, Thangappan & Balasubramanian, Thangavel, 2011, Distribution of Tetraodontiformes (Family: Tetraodontidae) along the Parangipettai Coast, Southeast coast of India, Zootaxa 3015, pp. 1-12 : 9

Chelonodon patoca ( Hamilton and Buchanan, 1822)

Milk spotted puffer

( Fig. 9)

Tetraodon patoca Leiodon patoca

Tetraodon kappa

Common names. Milk spotted toadfish, Gangetic puffer fish.

Habitat. Freshwater, Brackish, Marine, Reef-associated, Anadromous and depth range 4– 19 m.

Colour. Head and body with round white blotches above and with four broad, dark transverse bands. Lower part of head and body white and Caudal fin brownish with white spots anteriorly. Other fins pale yellowish colour.

Geographical distribution. Indo-Pacific; north to southern Japan and south to northern Australia.

Description of species. Dorsal soft spines (total): 9–11; Pectoral soft spines: 14–16; Anal soft spines: 7–9; Caudal soft spines: 8–9

Body covered with prickles, dorsal profile slightly convex and snout blunt. Nasal organ is a pit and a narrow anterior and broad posterior flap. Moderate terminal mouth with fleshy lips; Caudal fin slightly rounded.

Biology and fishery. Mainly occurs in small loose groups on shallow coastal sand flats and in estuaries. Often sleeps during the day by burying itself under the sand with only the eyes exposed. The length ranged from 14 to 30 cm TL unsexed, generally specimens caught with fishing bottom trawls.

Remarks. Considerable changes in colour pattern occur during the growth. Presence of numerous round white blotches and yellow colour shaded lines are observed in the middle abdominal region.

Not edible as flesh of fishes is believed to be poisonous. Not a commercial species.