Family : Diodontidae (Porcupinefishes (burrfishes))
Order : Tetraodontiformes  (puffers and filefishes)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Birdbeak burrfish
Fish Name : Cyclichthys orbicularis
Max size : 30.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 9710)
Environment : reef-associated ; depth range 9 - 170 m
Climate : tropical
Global Importance : fisheries: subsistence fisheries
Resilience: Distribution: Distribution : Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Philippines, north to southern Japan, south to Australia and New Caledonia (Ref. 9680). Southeast Atlantic: south coast of South Africa (Ref. 4423).
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-13; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 10-12. Adults brown to grey with blotches and clusters of black spots on back and sides; pelagic juveniles covered with black spots (Ref. 4423).
Biology : Inhabit clear protected reefs with sponge and algal habitats. Often in large sponges during the day (Ref. 48637). Usually over sand and mud bottoms to at least 170 m (Ref. 30573). Occasionally on reefs (Ref. 9680). Active at night, feeding among reefs (Ref. 48637). A nocturnal species (Ref. 9710) that presumably feeds on hard-shelled invertebrates (Ref. 9680, 48637)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : harmless
Coordinator :
Main Ref : Randall, J.E., G.R. Allen and R.C. Steene. 1990. (Ref. 2334)

India country information
Common Names : [ No common name ]
Status : native
Salinity : marine
Uses : no uses