Spotted Porcupinefish
Diodon hystrix
Sighting evidence at João Vieira Wall, Bijagós Islands
Porcupinefish are common on the shallower sections of the João Vieira wall, hovering in the shelter of overhang edges and sea fan bases by day and emerging to hunt urchins and hard-shelled invertebrates after dark. When threatened they inflate rapidly with water, erecting their spines into an impenetrable globe that deters even large predators. Their outsized eyes and perpetually surprised expression make them among the most beloved fish on any tropical reef.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
Spotted Porcupinefish is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.