{{Short description|Genus of fishes}} {{Automatic taxobox | image = Arothron manilensis.jpg | image_caption = Narrow-lined puffer (''Arothron manilensis'') | image2 = Botete negro (Arothron meleagris), Cabo Pulmo, Baja California, México, 2024-12-19, DD 54.jpg | image2_caption = Guineafowl puffer (Arothron meleagris) | taxon = Arothron | authority = J. P. Müller, 1841 | subdivision = | diversity = 14 species }}
'''''Arothron''''' is a genus of pufferfish that belongs to the family Tetraodontidae. These species are sometimes kept in aquaria.<ref name="fishbase" /><ref name=":0" />
The oldest described specimens of this genus are dated to the early Pleistocene epoch around 1.95-1.35 million years ago. They were uncovered in the Liuchungchi Formation in southern Taiwan. They are semi-articulated specimens with nearly complete skulls that show characteristic beak-like jaws.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lee |first=Chieh-Hsuan |last2=Přikryl |first2=Tomáš |last3=Hsu |first3=Yu-Chieh |last4=Lin |first4=Chien-Hsiang |date=2026-03-31 |title=First skeletal record of the pufferfish Arothron (Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae) from the Early Pleistocene of southern Taiwan |url=https://palaeo-electronica.org/content/2026/5823-pleistocene-pufferfish-from-taiwan |journal=Palaeontologia Electronica |language=English |volume=29 |issue=1 |pages=1–15 |doi=10.26879/1668 |issn=1094-8074|doi-access=free }}</ref>
== Distribution == They have a wide range of distribution being found in warm parts of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean.<ref name="fishbase" />
== Description == The largest species is ''A. stellatus'', which can reach {{convert|1.2|m|ft|abbr=on}} in length.<ref name="fishbase">{{FishBase genus | genus = Arothron | month = December | year = 2016}}</ref> They are easily distinguishable from other genera of pufferfish through several characteristics. The first is a single lateral line on the sides of their bodies. Their nostrils have the appearance of an upraised cup with two fleshy flaps. They are easily visible to the naked eye.<ref>Mishra, Subhrendu & Chakraborty, Priyankar & Yardi, Kranti. (2021). New record of white-spotted pufferfish Arothron hispidus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae) from West Bengal, India, compared with other Arothron species occurring in India. Journal of Fisheries. 9. 93401. 10.17017/j.fish.332. </ref>
==Species== There are currently 14 recognized species in this genus:<ref name=fishbase/><ref name=":0">{{Catalog of Fishes |genus=Arothron|access-date=28 March 2025}}</ref>
* ''Arothron caeruleopunctatus'' <small>Matsuura, 1994</small> (Blue-spotted puffer) * ''Arothron carduus'' <small>(Cantor, 1849)</small> * ''Arothron diadematus'' <small>(Rüppell, 1829)</small> (Masked puffer) * ''Arothron firmamentum'' <small>(Temminck & Schlegel, 1850)</small> (Starry puffer) * ''Arothron hispidus'' <small>(Linnaeus, 1758)</small> (White-spotted puffer) * ''Arothron immaculatus'' <small>(Bloch & J. G. Schneider, 1801)</small> (Immaculate puffer) * ''Arothron inconditus'' <small>J. L. B. Smith, 1958</small> (Belly-striped puffer) * ''Arothron manilensis'' <small>(Marion de Procé, 1822)</small> (Narrow-lined puffer) * ''Arothron mappa'' <small>(Lesson, 1831)</small> (Map puffer) * ''Arothron meleagris'' <small>(Anonymous, referred to Lacépède, 1798)</small> (Guineafowl puffer) * ''Arothron multilineatus'' <small>Matsuura, 2016</small> (Many-lined puffer)<ref name=Matsuura2016>{{cite journal|author=Matsuura, K. |year=2016|title= A new pufferfish, ''Arothron multilineatus'' (Actinopterygii: Tetraodontiformes: Tetraodontidae), from the Indo-West Pacific|journal=Ichthyological Research|volume= 63 |issue=4|pages= 480-486}}</ref> * ''Arothron nigropunctatus'' <small>(Bloch & J. G. Schneider, 1801)</small> (Black-spotted puffer) * ''Arothron reticularis'' <small>(Bloch & J. G. Schneider, 1801)</small> (Reticulated puffer) * ''Arothron stellatus'' <small>(Anonymous, referred to Lacépède, 1798)</small> (Stellate puffer) ;Synonyms * ''Arothron aerostaticus'' <small>(Jenyns, 1842)</small> valid as ''Arothron stellatus'' * ''Arothron gillbanksii'' <small>(Clarke, 1897)</small> valid as ''Arothron firmamentum'' * ''Arothron leopardus'' <small>(Day, 1878)</small> valid as ''Chelonodon leopardus'' * ''Arothron perspicillaris'' <small>(Rüppell, 1829)</small> valid as ''Arothron hispidus''
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q220417}}
Category:Arothron Category:Actinopterygii genera Category:Taxa named by Johannes Peter Müller
{{Tetraodontiformes-stub}}