A NEW GENERIC NAME FOR ANCHISOMUS MULTISTRIATUS RICHARDSON 1854 (TETRADONTIDAE), WITH NOTES ON ITS TOXICITY AND PUFFERFISH BITING BEHAVIOR

WA Museum Records and Supplements | Updated 1 decade ago

Abstract
A poorly known pufferfish, Anchisomus multistriatus Richardson, is redescribed from 25 specimens from northern Australian coastal waters, and placed in a new monotypic genus, Feroxodon. It differs from other tetraodontid genera with a similar nasal organ structure (tube with two nostrils) in aspects of frontal and sphenotic osteology. The species has been implicated in unprovoked biting incidents and in a well documented case of fish poisoning fatality.