The Porcupine Puffer is also known as the Porcupinefish or Porcupine Pufferfish. It has spiny appendages which cover most of its body, which may vary from light gray to mottled tans, sometimes with dark spots. Its teeth are actually a fused beak-like structure. The Porcupine Puffer lacks pelvic fins but has learned to use the pectoral fins to move about.

How big do porcupine puffers get? Although we usually see them from 4-8 inches they can reach a size of 20 inches.

What do porcupine puffers eat? The Porcupine Puffer needs a varied diet of meaty foods including; squid, krill, clams, and hard shelled shrimp to help wear down their ever growing teeth.

Often referred to as a pufferfish because they can puff up. The Puffer and the Porcupine fish are technically or scientifically from different families. Pufferfish are from the family Tetraodontidae while porcupinefish are from the family Diodontidae. The main difference between the two is the presence of spines that present themselves when the porcupinefish puffs up in the face of a threat. Pufferfish do not have these spines.

Yes they are cute little suckers but... Don't touch or try to get them to puff up because I can also use the word vicious little suckers. Those cute cuddly big eyed fish have a temper and can back it up with a bite. Yes, there are numerous accounts of snorkelers and divers literally losing fingers in a lightening strike of a bite.