• Question: why do some puffer fish have spikes and others dont?

    Asked by megan98 to Charlotte, Jo, Kevin, Louise, Valeria on 17 Jun 2012.
    • Photo: Joanna Cruden

      Joanna Cruden answered on 17 Jun 2012:

      I could not find any reason for this so I guess it is just down to differences in genetics between the species, the ones with the spikes are less likely to be eaten

    • Photo: Kevin Mahon

      Kevin Mahon answered on 20 Jun 2012:

      The spikes are just an adaption for delivering the poison and also for appearing dangerous.

      Some pufferfish without spikes aren’t poisonous – and are routinely eaten by predators, others that are poisonous rely on colouration to advertise their venom.

      It’s a case of divergence – the environments and ecology the different species of pufferfish evolved in are reflected by their level of poison and presence of spikes.

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