Family TRIODONTIDAE

Triodontidae

© Copyright Ros Poole.

Triodon macropterus drawing from original description

© Copyright Lesson 1831

Museums

Regional Maps

External Links

Introduction

The threetooth puffer is the only Recent species in the family Triodontidae. Triodon macropterus is benthic on the outer continental shelves and upper slopes of the Indo-west Pacific and lives in the tropical waters of Australia. Maximum size reached is 55 cm.

Tyler & Patterson (1991) reviewed Triodon macropterus in relation to Eocene species. Boeseman (1962) discussed the taxonomic history of the species and he argued that the name Triodon macropterus dates from a plate that was printed in 1829, whereas the text was published later (Lesson 1831). Eschmeyer (1998) attributed authorship of Triodon to Cuvier (1829) and the species name to Lesson (1831). Relationships of the family are treated by Tyler (1980) and Winterbottom (1974).

General References

Boeseman, M. 1962. Triodon macropterus versus Triodon bursarius; an attempt to establish the correct name and authorship. Zoologische Mededelingen (Leiden) 38(4): 77-85

Cuvier, G.L. 1829. Le Règne Animal Distribué d'après son Organisation, pour servir de base à l'histoire naturelle des animaux et d'introduction à l'anatomie comparée. Poissons. Paris : Fortin, Masson et Co. Vol. 2 Nouvelle édition, pp. 122-406.

Eschmeyer, W.N. 1998. Catalog of Fishes. San Francisco : California Academy of Sciences 2905 pp., 3 vols.

Lesson, R.P. 1831. Poissons. pp. 66-238 pls 1-38 in Duperrey, L.I. (ed.). Voyage autour du monde, exécuté par ordre du Roi, sur la corvette de sa Majest., La Coquille, pendant les années 1822, 1823, 1824 et 1825 sous le ministère de S.E.M. Le Marquis de Clermont-Tonnerre, et publié sous les auspices de son Excellence M. Le Cte De Chabrol, Ministre de la Marine et des Colonies. Histoire naturelle, zoologie. Paris : A. Bertrand. [Date published 1830-1832] [dated 1826]

Tyler, J.C. 1980. Osteology, phylogeny, and higher classification of the fishes of the order Plectognathi (Tetraodontiformes). National Marine Fisheries Service (U.S.). Technical Report 434: 1-422 figs 1-326

Tyler, J.C. & Patterson, C. 1991. The skull of the Eocene Triodon antiquus (Triodontidae; Tetraodontiformes): similar to that of the recent threetooth pufferfish T. macropterus. Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington 104(4): 878-891

Winterbottom, R. 1974. The familial phylogeny of the Tetraodontiformes (Acanthopterygii : Pisces) as evidenced by their comparative myology. Smithsonian Contributions to Zoology 155: 1-102 figs 1-185

Common Name References

Matsuura, K. 2001. Ostraciidae, Aracanidae, Triodontidae, Tetraodontidae. pp. 3948-3957 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, T.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 6 pp. 3381-4218. [3953] (Threetooth Puffer)

History of changes