Porcupinefishes or Burrfishes are large puffers with
stout spines that have roots embedded under the skin. Upper & lower jaws consist of solid bone forming
a continuous semicircular cutting edge capable of removing one's finger. They have large eyes and feed
nocturnally on hard-shelled invertebrates. Porcupinefishes swallow
water to inflate themselves when attacked making it nearly impossible
for large predators to swallow. Sharks or jacks have been seen
with inflated porcupinefish lodged in their throat. Below are photos of
decomposed skin collected by an elementary school student in Thailand.
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