Puffer fish are some of the most fascinating animals on Earth. These small critters are able to make use of their incredibly long and flexible spines to help them defend themselves against predators. In addition to their defenses, these fish also have a strong sense of smell and can even detect the presence of another animal.
Feeding
Puffer fish are fascinating creatures that are often called the balloonfish. They’re generally a few inches long but can reach upwards of two feet in size. Many species live in the ocean but others live in freshwater. While they’re generally harmless to humans, they can be dangerous to other animals.
When threatened, pufferfish expand their stomachs to protect them from potential predators. Basically, it’s a modest modification of water-blowing, and it works to prevent other predators from eating them. Depending on the source, some pufferfish can be very toxic. The toxins are derived from the food they eat.
Another interesting feature is the spines that they possess. These are specialized scales that are composed of protein and water. Most of them are covered by the scales while others are hidden until they are inflating. Interestingly, this is a fairly common occurrence in other animal species, but pufferfish spines are unique.
In order to explain the spines, researchers turned to genetics. First, they examined pufferfish spines in embryos. Secondly, they manipulated the genes involved.
They discovered that the spines are dependent on the same network of genes involved with feathers. Some spines also rely on the CRISPR-Cas9 system to loosen restrictions on their location. Finally, they measured the muscle activity involved in water-blowing.
There are several different methods by which pufferfish ambush their prey. The spines are especially useful in that they protect the fish from other predators. Other methods include cracking open hard-shelled creatures and swimming near their prey.
It’s no secret that pufferfish are fans of shellfish. They’re capable of cracking open a large number of animals, which allows them to consume them. However, they aren’t known for their digestive abilities.
They do, however, have a powerful toxin. While this isn’t harmful to humans, it can be fatal for some predators. So, it’s important to recognize the pufferfish’s capabilities and its toxicity. Also, be sure to avoid it if possible.
Despite its sexy looks, pufferfish can be dangerous. If they are swallowed by a predator, they can produce a tetrodotoxin. This toxin can be extremely deadly if it’s not prepared correctly.
Defenses against predators
Pufferfish have several defensive mechanisms, including tetrodotoxin. This toxic poison is lethal to humans and other animals. TTX accumulates in the ovaries of females and is transferred vertically from the parent to the larvae.
Defending against predators is an important part of natural selection. Natural selection has created a wide array of anti-predator morphologies and physiologies in prey. In many species, these adaptations enable the prey to continue foraging when their predators are nearby. The benefits of these defenses vary, depending on the frequency with which they are used.
Armor and spines are among the most prominent anti-predator adaptations. Some fish have armor and spines that allow them to forage more efficiently under high risk. Other species have noxious slimes that smother their predators.
Unlike camouflage, which only deters predators if they are able to identify the prey, noxiousness reduces the approach distance and discourages predators from approaching. However, this requires specialized physiology and a specialized diet. These defenses are more costly than other strategies.
Spines are usually the same color as the skin and stick out when the pufferfish inflates. They are also sharp. Several species of pufferfish have spines. When the fish is threatened, it inflates its stomach and releases a chemical called tetrodotoxin.
In some species, the spines are hard, rigid, or even sharp. When the pufferfish is threatened, it erects these spines. It then puffs up to its full size and exposes its sharp spikes on the abdomen.
Despite these defenses, pufferfish are not aggressive. They are more on the side of food than they are of predators. Consequently, it is difficult for humans to eat these animals.
There are a variety of other defenses, but they are less well-known. One of the best known is stinging. Another common strategy is fleeing. But a third, unknown defense is mimicry.
Mimicry is a defense that delays the identification of a predator by mimicking its behavior. By doing this, the prey can continue foraging, while a predator identifies the prey as a threat. As a result, the predator will be subdued for a longer time.
Genetics responsible for pufferfish spines
One of the more interesting traits of pufferfish are the spiky skin ornaments. These structures are in the form of a hollow cone and are thought to serve some type of protective function. However, the actual mechanism by which they perform this function is a mystery. A recent study in iScience outlined a possible mechanism.
The most important tidbit about these ornaments is that they may have served as a way for pufferfish to fill some ecological niches. Another tidbit is that spines are able to be reduced or even eliminated in some freshwater habitats.
For example, a freshwater species known as the Nile tilapia, does not develop lateral armor plates, but does retain dorsal spines. In contrast, the tiger pufferfish Takifugu rubripes, has served as a model species for many genetic studies. It is also notable that this species has the highest market value.
The best way to learn about the complexities of this complex system is to study the genes involved. This is where MSX2A comes in. It is a major gene associated with dorsal spine reduction in freshwater sticklebacks. While the exact role of MSX2A is unknown, it has been shown to be a critical link in the armor reduction chain. Moreover, this gene is also linked to another gene that controls the loss of bony plates.
Another genetic mechanism of note is the use of polymorphisms in the GDF9 gene to enhance E2 synthesis. As a result, it may have played a role in the precocious aforementioned-moment.
Several loci on chromosome 4 contribute to the tally, but only one is actually able to explain the most common phenotype. The QTL displaying the largest effect is the one relating to testes weight. Using the fine-scale linkage map of 1,423 effective SNPs, the researchers uncovered three suggestive loci. They used a maximum-likelihood method to determine which nodes stood out.
The true trick is to find the real causative factor. To this end, a high-quality genomic reference has been established. Ultimately, CRISPR-Cas9 technology will be used to test the role of candidate genes in these fascinating pufferfish.
Reproduction
Pufferfish are small fish of the genus Eotetraodon. These animals can grow to about 36 inches long. They live in freshwater or brackish water. They feed on hermit crabs and sea urchins. Their bodies are lined by a thick folded stratified epithelium. The pufferfish uses a rhythmical buccal pumping to force water into its “stomach.”
Pufferfish have a skeletal system that is composed of fused bones in the cranium and jaw. They have an incomplete pelvic fin, no midline sutures, and a skeleton that lacks ribs and vertebrae.
Pufferfish are members of the Acanthopterygii group, which also includes striped bass. Several other species of ray-fin fish, including bichir, the striped bass, and plectognaths, are related to pufferfish. Some researchers believe that the simplified morphology of pufferfish might be due to the reduced complexity of the Hox complex. However, that hypothesis may be unfounded. Rather, it is possible that simplified morphology may arise from an early occurrence of whole-genome duplication.
Using a nested phylogenetic context, researchers were able to map the organization of the pufferfish Hox clusters. Two species of pufferfish have at least seven Hox clusters. In other teleosts, Hox clusters are duplicated.
Phylogenetic analysis supports the duplication-first model. Genes that have been duplicated are mapped in neighbor-joining trees based on amino acid sequences. Filled squares represent overlapping genes, and empty squares represent pseudogenes.
There are at least six original genes that are retained in both lineages. This is likely the result of the rare evolution of positively selected functions.
Spines are similar to the hair processes in vertebrates. Spines only form in certain patches on the pufferfish body. During puffing, the spines expand to make the fish more threatening to predators.
A study in the iScience journal identified the genes responsible for the development of pufferfish spines. The genes are similar to those involved in the formation of vertebrate feathers. Researchers hypothesized that the spines evolved as anti-predator defense.
Pufferfish have a beak-like dentition. Their beaks consist of a stack of elongated laminar teeth. Each tooth is a member of the same tooth family. Typically, the teeth at the cutting edge are older than those at the base.