Best of Mike #149

I don't know about you but I thought the only fish that isn't swimming constantly is the one that is floating upside down at the surface, dead.

Turns out, that is not the case.

This is a Porcupinefish.... also known as Balloonfish and sometimes called a Blowfish.

Then are kind of slow moving and tend to hover a lot.... and sometimes see them taking a break, altogether, from the work of swimming.

In this case, he has found a nice soft bowl shaped sponge to sit down on.

They have the ability to take in water or air to blow themselves up to about 2x their normal size.... if threatened.

Once inflated the sharp spines that cover their body point straight out.... making for a first line of defense.

And last but certainly not leas.... some species, in this family, are also poisonous. Having a neuro-toxin in their internal organs that is at least 1200 times more potent than cyanide.

So make a note .... while diving, you should never bite a Porcupinefish.

As a result of all these defenses, these fish generally get left alone.... although adults are sometimes the prey of sharks and orcas and, juveniles can be a meal for tuna and dolphin.