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[[Image:327791156 e5d74643a3.jpg|thumb|A puffer fish]]
[[File:Puffer fish.jpg|right|300px|thumbnail|Another picture of a puffer fish]]
'''Pufferfish''' are a distinctive family of tropical and sub-tropical marine fish, also known as blowfish. It is called the puffer fish because when it is threatened, it puffs up to about twice its normal size by gulping [[water]]. In this engorged state, the puffer fish can swim at only about half its normal speed.

There are about 100 species of puffer fish. Most puffer fish are found in sub-tropical and [[tropical]] marine waters (including [[coral reef]]s) in the [[Atlantic]], [[Pacific]], and [[Indian Ocean]]s. Some puffers live in brackish and fresh water.

==Poison==
Many parts of the blowfish (including the [[liver]], [[muscle]]s, [[skin]], and [[ovary|ovaries]]) contain an extremely strong, paralyzing poison called ''[[tetrodotoxin]]''. This poison is about a thousand times deadlier than [[cyanide]]. There is no known antidote for this poison. Fugu (the prepared flesh of the Japanese puffer fish) is eaten in [[Japan]], but is only cooked by specially-trained chefs who can minimize the amount of poison. Even so, many Japanese diners have died from eating this poisonous delicacy.

==Diet== 
Pufferfish are [[carnivores]]. They eat [[coral]]s, [[sponge]]s, [[sea urchin]]s, other echinoderms, and small [[crustacean]]s. Puffer fish crush and grind up their prey with their heavy, melded [[teeth]].

[[Category:Fish]]
[[Category:Seafood]]