Puffer Fish
Now the puffer fish don't really liked to be harassed. I
always teach my classes to respect the marine environment, to be
content looking not touching etc... etc... so what do I see as we
make our way along the reef but one of the divers in my group (he
wasn't one of the students but a friend of mine) harassing the
marine life. This was a good opportunity for me to explain to my
class after we got back on the boat how NOT to interact with the
marine life. This is often what gets you in trouble in the ocean
if you look with your hands and not with your eyes - something
will bite or otherwise attack you. In the case of the poor puffer
fish it stresses him OUT! I couldn't pass up the opportunity to
get the whole thing on tape.
All Images © Andrew Donn, All Rights Reserved
1998-2003.
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Caught
The puffer fish's main means of
defense is to puff himself up making himself
larger and exposing prickly spines all over his
body which would be unappetizing to his predator.
He does this by inflating himself with seawater.
Once he feels threatened up he goes.
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Limited
Maneuverability
With his body inflated, he
beats his little fins in an effort to move
around.
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AAAGH!
'Leave me alone!' he screams as
some divers stop to take a look.
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Pose
He decides to go with it for
now and pose for the camera.
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