NO RESERVE pufferfish + porcupinefish Taxidermy full body...

The tetraodontids are a family of freshwater and marine bony fish, belonging to the order Tetraodontiformes, commonly known as pufferfish. Pufferfish are morphologically very similar to porcupinefish, which have large exterior spines on their bodies, whereas pufferfish bear much finer spines that are generally hidden and observable only when the fish inflates into a ball. The name Tetraodontidae derives from Greek and means "four teeth" and refers to the fact that pufferfish all have four broad teeth fused into two plates, an upper and a lower one, used to break shells and mollusks and crustaceans, their natural prey. Most pufferfish are venomous, and some are even among the most venomous vertebrates known. In fact, in some species certain internal organs such as the liver, and sometimes even the skin, contain tetrodotoxin, one of the most potent neurotoxins known. They are distributed in most tropical waters around the globe. Pufferfish mainly feed on mollusks, crustaceans, jellyfish, and polyps of corals, using their four hard teeth and powerful muscles to crush shells or the exoskeletal structure of their prey. Although not an excellent swimmer due to the rigidity of their body, pufferfish are not typically preyed upon because they boast two particular defense mechanisms: they can swallow large amounts of water quickly, becoming very large and hard to swallow even for large predators; furthermore their viscera and muscles contain a very potent poison, tetrodotoxin, a neurotoxin that inhibits respiratory function, leading rapidly to death. Diodon hystrix. Oval, elongated body covered with long, rigid spines that stand upright except on the anterior side of the snout, the cheeks, and the caudal peduncle. Eyes fairly lateral and very protruding, a beak-shaped snout, and the classic spines that characterize the porcupinefish. The dorsal and anal fins are small, rounded, and placed near the caudal peduncle. The pectoral fins are broad and round. Depending on the species, the porcupinefish measures between 20 and almost 100 cm in length. They feed on mollusks, crustaceans, and some polychaetes. These funny fish are the "cousins" of the equally funny pufferfish. Like their cousins, the porcupinefish also possess the famous and formidable tetrodotoxin that makes them deadly poisonous; and they have also evolved the bizarre defensive strategy of ingesting water to dilate their stomachs, thus taking on the shape of a ball. The swelling of porcupinefish makes them resemble a spiny ball thanks to the evolution of their scales into horn-like spines that rise as the subject inflates, making it difficult for predators to handle. The lot is presented on reclaimed wood, not included. A necessary clarification. The final image of our photographic gallery is produced with the help of AI software. The purpose is purely aesthetic but also illustrative: it shows the real object inside an artificially generated setting. The aim is to show how valuable the items in the auction are and how well they look in different environments, all highly refined. Thank you for your attention. Happy bidding.

Estimate:$221.16

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