Puffer Fish

In news: A group of animal biologists at the Institute of Transformative Bio-Molecules (ITbM) at Nagoya University in central Japan, have identified the pheromone involved in the mechanism that triggers puffer fish to spawn (release/deposit eggs) on beaches using moonlight.

About:

• Along coastlines around the world, at the time of the spring tide, thousands of puffer fish gather at the water’s edge and perform a writhing motion as they spawn. These fish are known as ‘semilunar spawners’.
• Puffer fish display a synchronised beach-spawning behaviour.
• This is due to release of a pheromone PGE2 into the seawater by the spawning puffers.
• Spring tide means a tide just after a new moon or full moon.

Puffer Fish (or Blow Fish):

• These clumsy swimmers fill their elastic stomachs with huge amounts of water (and sometimes air) and inflate into a ball shape to evade predators.
• Most pufferfish contain a toxic substance that makes them foul tasting and potentially deadly to other fish. The toxin is deadly to humans.
• Most puffers are found in tropical and subtropical ocean waters, but some species live in brackish and even fresh water.
• Threat: pollution, habitat loss, and overfishing

Source: The Hindu

Previous Year Question

Q.1) Which one of the following is a filter feeder? (2021)

1. Catfish
2. Octopus
3. Oyster
4. Pelican