Lagocephalus lagocephalus
Oceanic Puffer
No Local Name
f.TETRAODONTIDAE
Puffers
Lagocephalus lagocephalus
Oceanic Puffer
No Local Name
f.TETRAODONTIDAE
Puffers
Cook Islands Status Summary
Show Notes
Intl. NamesOceanic Puffer EN , Pelagic Balloonfish EN Pelagic Puffer EN Pelagic Pufferfish EN Rabbit Puffer EN
Local NamesP,?NRR
Pacific NamesNo Content
Sci. NamesLagocephalus lagocephalus (accepted name)
, Tetraodon lagocephalus
High Tax. Eng.k.Animals, p.Vertebrates, spc.Fishes, c.Bony Fishes, f.Puffers - Bony Fish
High Tax. Latink.ANIMALIA, p.CHORDATA, sp.GNATHOSTOMATA, spc.PISCES, c.OSTEICHTHYES, o.Tetraodontiformes, so.Tetraodontoidei, spf.Tetraodontoidea, f.TETRAODONTIDAE
Natl. PresencePresentOceanicP
Sth. PresenceRR+MG?AT?MK?MT?AK?PL?MN?TK?
Nth. PresenceTN?MH?RK?PK?NS?SW?
VouchersRR1999
Local OriginNative; Resident
Global RangeNative: circumtropical - subtropics [Cooks & NZ are the only s.Pacific records];
HabitatAquatic; Marine; Oceanic
ThreatenedNo Content
InvasivenessNo Content
BiosecurityNo Content
Medical StatusNo Content
Harmful StatusHarmful; poisonous to eat
UsesNo Content
IdentificationA round elongate fish, to 50cm SL. Smooth skin, with small extendable spines on the belly. Dark blue-grey above, silver sides and white underside. Fins soft and dark grey. Round fleshy mouth with beak-like teeth.
Similar SpeciesNo Content
Interest NotePufferfishes are usually toxic, especially the viscera, gonamore...ds and skin. The flesh is often edible, but too easily contaminated with toxin during preparation.
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Vernacular Names
no data available
Threatened
no data available
Invasive/Pest Status
no data available
Biosecurity
Citation Information
McCormack, Gerald (2026) Cook Islands Biodiversity & Ethnobiology Database, Version 2026.04.29 - Cook Islands Natural Heritage Trust, Rarotonga. Online at https://naturalheritage.gov.ck/cibed
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