| Family | Scientific Name | Author | Year | Common Name |
| Diodontidae | Diodon holocanthus | Linnaeus | 1758 | Balloonfish |
Diodon holocanthus
Unique Characters: Brownish body with several large, dark dorsal blotches; no small, dark spots on fins. A dark bar below eye. Spines on forehead longer than those on body. All body spines erectile and 2-rooted (except a few around gill opening or dorsal-fin base). No spines wholly on caudal peduncle. 12-15 spines from lower jaw to anus.
Similar Species:
Pelagic Porcupinefish
Diodon eydouxii
Porcupinefish
Diodon hystrix
Pelagic Porcupinefish Diodon eydouxii. A wholly pelagic species colored dark blue dorsally. Body without large dorsal blotches; all fins (anal sometimes excepted) heavily spotted. All body spines erectile and 2-rooted (except a few around gill opening or dorsal-fin base). One or more small spines wholly on the dorsal surface of caudal Peduncle. 10-19 spines from lower jaw to anus. Pectoral-fin soft rays 19-22; anal-fin soft rays 16-18. Dorsal and anal fins somewhat pointed in adults. Relatively streamlined, head width of adults 3.3-4.0 in standard length. 10-14 spines from lower jaw to anus.
Porcupinefish Diodon hystrix. Body without large dorsal blotches; all fins (anal sometimes excepted) heavily spotted. Spines on forehead shorter than those on body. All body spines erectile and 2-rooted (except a few around gill opening or dorsal-fin base). One or more small spines wholly on the dorsal surface of caudal Peduncle. 10-19 spines from lower jaw to anus. Pectoral-fin soft rays 22-25 (rarely 21); anal-fin soft rays 14-16. Dorsal and anal fins rounded in adults. Relatively robust, head width of adults 2.4-3.3 in standard length. 14-19 spines from lower jaw to anus. Juveniles (up to 20 cm) pelagic, adults demersal and colored tan to brown.
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