Long Spine Porcupine Fish

Design

The unique features of this fish give it protection against predators. When threatened, the long-spine porcupinefish will fill its body with air or water, which makes its body swell like a balloon. This makes it too large to fit into the predator’s mouth. Also when “inflated,” the spines all over its body are fully extended, making it even less of a desirable meal to the predator. Such a defense mechanism requires a flexible stomach, vertebrae, and sides. This structure could not have happened by chance, random processes, but was designed by the Creator.

Features

• The long-spine porcupinefish has dark patches on its sides and back.
• It has long spines that protrude from all over its body, except for the fins and face.
• When not threatened, this fish’s spines will lie flat against its body.

Fun Facts

• Common names for this fish include balloonfish, balloon porcupinefish, blotched porcupinefish, brown porcupinefish, freckled porcupinefish, hedgehog fish, and spiny puffer.
• The long-spine porcupinefish has an elastic stomach, flexible skeletal structure, and stretchy skin, all which allow it to inflate like a balloon.
• The teeth of both the upper and lower jaws of this fish are fused, forming a solid, heavy beak. This beak makes cracking the shells of snails, sea urchins, and hermit crabs easy.