Kusafugu - Kusafugu

This marine fish belongs to the order Tetraodontiformes and family Tetraodontiidae of the class Osteichthyes. It is found in areas south of Aomori Prefecture, as well as along the coasts of the Yellow Sea and East China Sea. It reaches a total length of 25cm, with small spines scattered on the back and ventral side of its body. The dorsal side of its body is grey-blue-green with numerous small white circular spots scattered on it, and the ventral side is white. The spawning season is from May to July, and they form large schools at high tide for several days before and after the spring tides to lay their eggs among pebbles on rocky shores. The ovaries, liver and intestines are highly toxic, the skin is highly toxic, and the flesh and testes are slightly toxic. They have a habit of burrowing into the sand, and also enter rivers.

[Keiichi Matsuura]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

硬骨魚綱フグ目フグ科に属する海水魚。青森県以南の各地、および黄海、東シナ海の沿岸に分布する。全長25センチメートルに達し、体の背面と腹面に小棘(しょうきょく)が散在する。体の背側は灰青緑色で多数の小白色円点が散在し、腹側は白い。産卵期は5～7月で、大潮の前後の数日間、満潮時に大群をなして岩礁性の海岸の小石の間に産卵する。卵巣、肝臓、腸に猛毒があり、皮膚に強毒、肉と精巣に弱毒がある。砂に潜る習性があり、河川にも入る。

［松浦啓一］

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