CLASSIFICATION OF DIODON : PORCUPINE FISH
Phylum :- CHORDATA ( Notochord and dorsal tubular nerve cord present and gill-slits present).
Group :- CRANIATA ( Cranium with brain present ).
Subphylum :- VERTEBRATA (Vertebral column present ).
Division :- GNATHOSTOMATA ( Jaws and paired appendages present ).
Super class :- PISCES (Paired fins , gills and skin with scales)
Class :- OSTEICHTHYES ( Bony fishes ).
SUB-CLASS :- ACTINOPTYERGII ( Ray finned fish ).
SUPER ORDER :- TELEOISTEI ( Bony fish proper).
Order :- PLECTOGNATHI (Body globose, jaws short. Teeth strong incisors. Scales bony or spiny. Gill clefts
small).
FAMILY :- Diodontidae
GENUS :- Diodon
GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION
Diodon is confined to tropical seas.
GENERAL CHARACTERSTICS OF DIODON : PORCUPINE FISH
- Commonly known as Porcupine fish.
- Body is rounded, globose and covered with numerous flexible spines, the organs of defence; they are erected to protect from enemy. Some forms inflate their bodies by swallowing water. Scales generally spiny or bony.
- Body divided into head, trunk and tail. Head contains mouth, nostril and large rounded eyes.
- Inter-operculum is rod like and attached to the anterior limb of sub-operculum.
- Paired pectoral fin near operculum. Dorsal fin near caudal fin. Caudal fin is rounded and tilted upwards anal fin opposite to dorsal fin.
- Gills are three in number. Belly inflatable. Gill opening distinct.
- Skin leathery.
ECONOMIC IMPORTANCE
Porcupinefish are eaten as food fish and are an exotic delicacy in Cebu, Philippines, where they are called tagotongan.
SPECIAL FEATURE
The porcupine fishes are poisonous. They attracted attention from the earliest times, as they were frequently preserved as ‘curiosities’.
IDENTIFICATION
This fish has flexible spines and globose body and above features, hence it is Diodon.
REFERENCES
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porcupinefish
- Book of Practical Zoology VERTEBRATE by S.S.LAL – Rastogi Publications.
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