White-spotted puffer
Arothron hispidus
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- White-spotted puffer
- Scientific
- Arothron hispidus
- Dhivehi
- ލައްޖެހި ކޮލިLahjehi koli
- Group
- Reef fish
- Maximum size
- Up to about 50 cm (total length); max. published weight 2 kg (FishBase); MRS 1997 gives max. 48 cm
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 1 to 50 m; also enters brackish water
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2011
Description
A greyish to greenish-brown pufferfish covered in small white spots, with yellow rings around the pectoral fin base and bars on the belly. It lives on sandy and rubble areas near reefs and in lagoons, eating a wide variety of algae and invertebrates. Like other pufferfish it can swallow water to inflate itself, and its organs contain a deadly poison.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi name lahjehi koli (MRS 1997).
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Arothron-hispidus.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ލައްޖެހި_ކޮލި
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Arothron_hispidus_is_kissing_my_camera_at_Big_Island_of_Haw
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives (FAO/BOBP MAG/21) gives 'Lahjehi koli' (Latin form). Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ލައްޖެހި ކޮލި' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition); it matches the Latin form. FishBase also lists 'Gali-koli' under India (Minicoy/Lakshadweep Mahl dialect); not used.