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. 
Cape Town Time
9 years ago
Oh wow, great find. We often see the other type of puffer fish, but haven't seen many of these.
ReplyDeleteNature creates the very weird and wonderful. Is this creature poisonous?
ReplyDeleteNo, not poisonous apparently.
ReplyDeleteI love these 'Washed, cast, -up' posts. Another lovely creature:)
ReplyDelete