Family : Tetraodontidae (Puffers)
Order : Tetraodontiformes  (puffers and filefishes)
Class : Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Fishbase Name : Milkspotted puffer
Fish Name : Chelonodon patoca
Max size : 38.0 cm SL (male/unsexed; Ref. 48637)
Environment : reef-associated; anadromous ; depth range - 4 m
Climate : tropical; 23 - 28°C
Global Importance : fisheries: minor commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)Distribution : Indo-Pacific: East Africa to the Admiralty Islands, New Britain and Trobiand Islands, north to China, south to northern Australia.
Diagnosis : Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-11; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 8-10. Body covered with prickles (Ref. 559).
Biology : Inhabits coastal waters and enters the lower reaches of rivers and lagoons (Ref. 4833). Occurs on sand and mudflats, usually in estuaries (Ref. 48637). Usually found around the mouths of rivers or in brackish mangrove estuaries and sometimes penetrates fresh water, but is never found more than a few km from the sea (Ref. 2847, 44894). Often in schools and sometimes swims up freshwater streams (Ref. 48637). Considered a delicacy in Japan (Ref. 12484)
Threatened : Dangerous:  
Dangerous : poisonous to eat , van der Elst, R.. 1993
Coordinator : Matsuura, Keiichi
Main Ref : Kottelat, M., A.J. Whitten, S.N. Kartikasari and S. Wirjoatmodjo. 1993. (Ref. 7050)

India country information
Common Names : Gangetic pufferfish
Status : native
Salinity : brackish, marine
Uses : no uses