Diodon nicthemerus, Hobart, TAS, Photo: Graham Edgar
Diodon nicthemerus, Busselton, WA, Photo: Graham Edgar
Diodon nicthemerus, Bermagui, NSW, Photo: Andrew Green
Distribution
Temperate Australasia
Description
Dark-grey back, black blotches on the sides, a white belly, and yellow spines. When threatened, the fish inflates its body rapidly into a sphere with outwardly radiating spines. The species occurs in a range of habitats along the southern coast and is most abundant on sheltered coastal reefs.
Information
Max Size: 40 cm
Sea Temperature Range: 10.2-22.6°C
Depth: 0-50m
Habitat: Rocky Reef
Habitat Generalisation Index: 8.4
Also referred to as the SGI (Species generalisation index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species.
Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most
hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here
Rarity
IUCN Threat Status: Not Evaluated
Occurrence: Common (33% of sites)
Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution.
It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed
Abundance: Few (2 per transect)
Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.
Edit by: GJ Edgar. 2008. Australian Marine Life. New Holland, Sydney
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