No.22 Spotfin burrfish

This saltwater fish belongs to the Harisenbonidae family of pufferfish.
It is found in warm seas (reefs and coral reefs) around the world and is characterized by the spines that cover its entire body. Where they spawn and how they grow are shrouded in mystery.

This sample was requested by NHK Enterprises, Inc. and CT scanned as part of NHK E-television's “Gyogyotto Sakana★Star” project.
The “Giggling Sakana Star” program HP: ： https://www.nhk.jp/p/ts/P58QMGP4K1/

CT imaging revealed a three-part base with short spines and an overlapping base, creating an armor-like structure. It was also confirmed that, like other members of the pufferfish family, it has no ribs, as they interfere with its ability to inflate.

The reefs and coral reefs that are their habitat are inhabited by moray eels and groupers, which are their natural enemies, and it is thought that they changed their scales to spines and lost their ribs in order to avoid being eaten.