Editing Tetraodontidae (section)

=== Natural defenses ===
The puffer's unique and distinctive natural defenses help compensate for its slow locomotion. It moves by combining [[pectoral fin|pectoral]], [[dorsal fin|dorsal]], [[anal fin|anal]], and [[caudal fin]] motions. This makes it highly maneuverable, but very slow, so a comparatively easy predation target.  Its tail fin is mainly used as a rudder, but it can be used for a sudden evasive burst of speed that shows none of the care and precision of its usual movements.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Brainerd |first1=Elizabeth L. |last2=Patek |first2=Sheila N. |date=1998 |title=Vertebral Column Morphology, C-Start Curvature, and the Evolution of Mechanical Defenses in Tetraodontiform Fishes |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1447344 |journal=Copeia |volume=1998 |issue=4 |pages=971–984 |doi=10.2307/1447344 |jstor=1447344 |issn=0045-8511}}</ref>  The puffer's excellent eyesight, combined with this speed burst, is the first and most important defense against predators.

{{multiple image
 | align = right
 | direction = horizontal
 | image1    = Arothron meleagris by NPS.jpg
 | width1    = 220
 | alt1      =
 | caption1  =
 | image2    = Arothron meleagris by NPS 1.jpg
 | width2    = 160
 | alt2      =
 | caption2  =
 | footer       = [[Guineafowl puffer]] – unpuffed and puffed
 | footer_align = center
}}

The pufferfish's secondary defense mechanism, used if successfully pursued, is to fill its extremely elastic [[stomach]] with water (or air when outside the water) until it is much larger and almost [[sphere|spherical]] in shape.  Even if they are not visible when the puffer is not inflated, all puffers have pointed spines, so a hungry predator may suddenly find itself facing an unpalatable, pointy ball rather than a slow, easy meal.  Predators that do not heed this warning (or are "lucky" enough to catch the puffer suddenly, before or during inflation) may die from choking, and predators that do manage to swallow the puffer may find their stomachs full of [[tetrodotoxin]] (TTX), making puffers an unpleasant, possibly lethal, choice of prey. This [[neurotoxin]] is found primarily in the [[ovary|ovaries]] and [[liver]], although smaller amounts exist in the [[intestines]] and [[skin]], as well as trace amounts in muscle.  It does not always have a lethal effect on large predators, such as sharks, but it can kill humans.

Larval pufferfish are [[Chemical defense|chemically defended]] by the presence of TTX on the surface of skin, which causes predators to spit them out.<ref>{{Cite journal|date=2014-02-01|title=Larval pufferfish protected by maternal tetrodotoxin|journal=Toxicon|language=en|volume=78|pages=35–40|doi=10.1016/j.toxicon.2013.11.003|pmid=24279996|issn=0041-0101|last1=Itoi|first1=Shiro|last2=Yoshikawa|first2=Saori|last3=Asahina|first3=Kiyoshi|last4=Suzuki|first4=Miwa|last5=Ishizuka|first5=Kento|last6=Takimoto|first6=Narumi|last7=Mitsuoka|first7=Ryoko|last8=Yokoyama|first8=Naoto|last9=Detake|first9=Ayumi|last10=Takayanagi|first10=Chie|last11=Eguchi|first11=Miho|last12=Tatsuno|first12=Ryohei|last13=Kawane|first13=Mitsuo|last14=Kokubo|first14=Shota|last15=Takanashi|first15=Shihori|last16=Miura|first16=Ai|last17=Suitoh|first17=Katsuyoshi|last18=Takatani|first18=Tomohiro|last19=Arakawa|first19=Osamu|last20=Sakakura|first20=Yoshitaka|last21=Sugita|first21=Haruo|doi-access=free|bibcode=2014Txcn...78...35I |hdl=10069/34069|hdl-access=free}}</ref>

Not all puffers are necessarily poisonous; the flesh of the [[northern puffer]] is not toxic (a level of poison can be found in its [[viscera]]) and it is considered a delicacy in North America.<ref name=IUCNSphoeroides>{{Cite iucn | author = Shao, K. | author2 = Liu, M. | author3 = Hardy, G. | author4 = Jing, L. | author5 = Leis, J.L. | author6 = Matsuura, K. | name-list-style=amp | title = ''Sphoeroides maculatus'' | volume = 2014 | page = e.T190246A1945870 | date = 2014 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T190246A1945870.en }}</ref> Toxin level varies widely even in fish that are poisonous. A puffer's neurotoxin is not necessarily as toxic to other animals as it is to humans, and puffers are eaten routinely by some species of fish, such as [[lizardfish]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ocean-photo.de/ansicht-_verhalten-12-rdi_0167.htm |title=Unterwasserfotos – Ocean-Photo |publisher=Ocean-photo.de |access-date=2012-09-07}}</ref> and [[shark]]s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.keywestaquarium.com/puffer-fish |title=Big poison, little fish|publisher=Key West Aquarium, Florida|date=2019 |access-date=21 May 2019}}</ref>

Puffers are able to move their eyes independently, and many species can change the color or intensity of their patterns in response to environmental changes. In these respects, they are somewhat similar to the terrestrial [[chameleon]]. Although most puffers are drab, many have bright colors and distinctive markings,<ref name="EoF" /> and make no attempt to hide from predators. This is likely an example of [[honest signal|honestly signaled]] [[aposematism]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Blount |first1=Jonathan D. |last2=Speed |first2=Michael P. |last3=Ruxton |first3=Graeme D. |last4=Stephens |first4=Philip A. |title=Warning displays may function as honest signals of toxicity |journal=Proceedings of the Royal Society B |date=2009 |volume=276 |issue=1658 |pages=871–877 |doi=10.1098/rspb.2008.1407 |pmid=19019790 |pmc=2664363}}</ref>

[[Dolphin]]s have been filmed expertly handling pufferfish amongst themselves in an apparent attempt to get intoxicated or enter a trance-like state.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/dolphins-seem-to-use-toxic-pufferfish-to-get-high-180948219/ |title=Dolphins Seem to Use Toxic Pufferfish to Get High |last=Nuwer |first=Rachel |author-link=Rachel Nuwer |work=Smithsonian.com |date=2013-12-30 |access-date=2019-04-16}}</ref>