Friday, February 24, 2012

Puffed up

Washed up on Fish Hoek Beach this morning: a small, round, puffed up little fish called a 'blaasop', which is Afrikaans for "puffed up". It is a Birdbeak Burrfish (Cyclichthys orbiculatis) that normally lives in the open ocean (Indian and Pacific). Juveniles are often washed up on Cape beaches. Its spines are modified scales.

4 comments:

  1. Oh wow, great find. We often see the other type of puffer fish, but haven't seen many of these.

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  2. Nature creates the very weird and wonderful. Is this creature poisonous?

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  3. I love these 'Washed, cast, -up' posts. Another lovely creature:)

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