{{Short description|Species of fish}} {{Speciesbox | image = Canthigaster amboinensis - Ambon-Spitzkopfkugelfisch 180896084.jpg | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn">{{Cite journal | author = Shao, K. | author2 = Liu, M. | author3 = Jing, L. | author4 = Hardy, G. | author5 = Leis, J.L. | author6 = Matsuura, K. | name-list-style = amp | title = ''Canthigaster amboinensis'' | journal = The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species | volume = 2014 | page = e.T193675A2258615 | publisher = IUCN | date = 2014 | url = http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/193675/0 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-3.RLTS.T193675A2258615.en | access-date = 9 January 2018| doi-access = free }}</ref> | genus = Canthigaster | species = amboinensis | authority = (Bleeker, 1864) | synonyms = * ''Psilonotus amboinensis'' * ''Tropidichthys oahuensis'' * ''Tropidichthys psegma'' * ''Canthigaster polyophthalmus'' }}
'''''Canthigaster amboinensis''''', commonly known as the '''Ambon pufferfish''', the '''Ambon toby''', or the '''spider-eye puffer''', is a species of pufferfish of the family Tetraodontidae. The species is commonly seen in the tropical Indo-Pacific Ocean, including Australia, Indonesia, Japan, Papua New Guinea, Taiwan and the Hawaiian Islands.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last1=Sikkel|first1=Paul C.|last2=Sikkel|first2=Niko M.|date=November 2012|title=First report of spawning and social organization in Hawai'ian Ambon Toby, Canthigaster amboinensis|url=http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10228-012-0290-2|journal=Ichthyological Research|language=en|volume=59|issue=4|pages=394–395|doi=10.1007/s10228-012-0290-2|bibcode=2012IchtR..59..394S |s2cid=254166411 |issn=1341-8998|url-access=subscription}}</ref> The species is named after the island of Ambon in Indonesia.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|last=Hoover|first=John P.|title=The ultimate guide to Hawaiian reef fishes sea turtles, dolphins, whales, and seals|date=2008|publisher=Mutual Pub|others=John P. Hoover|isbn=978-1-56647-887-8|location=Honolulu|oclc=243960518}}</ref>
== Description == ''C. amboinensis'' is overall a rather rotund fish, but it is known to be a fast swimmer that can be hard to approach.<ref name=":1"/> The species can reach a total length of 15 cm (5.9 inches).<ref name=":1"/><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2022 |editor-last=Froese |editor-first=Rainer |editor2-last=Pauly |editor2-first=Daniel |title=''Canthigaster amboinensis'' |url=https://www.fishbase.de/summary/Canthigaster-amboinensis.html |website=FishBase}}</ref> It can be identified by its dark brown base color, blue-green lines radiating from the eyes, dark blue spots and lines on the cheeks, and iridescent light blue to white spots on head and body, which are absent from the anus to its lower jaw.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal|last1=Allen|first1=Gerald R.|last2=Randall|first2=John E.|date=1977-12-31|title=Review of the sharpnose pufferfishes (subfamily Canthigasterinae) of the Indo-Pacific|url=https://journals.australian.museum/allen-and-randall-1977-rec-aust-mus-3017-475517/journals.australian.museum/allen-and-randall-1977-rec-aust-mus-3017-475517/|journal=Records of the Australian Museum|language=en|volume=30|issue=17|pages=475–517|doi=10.3853/j.0067-1975.30.1977.192|issn=0067-1975|doi-access=free}}{{Dead link|date=October 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref><ref name=":1" /> One of over 30 species within the genus ''Canthigaster'', ''C. amboinensis'' is rarely included in research studies and can be difficult to differentiate from other, related species.<ref name=":2" />
== Distribution & Habitat == ''C. amboinensis'' is found in the tropical Indo-Pacific.<ref name=":1"/> Pairs are usually found around boulders in shallow areas close to shore and on reef patches, with females usually occupying 25 m<sup>2</sup> and males 100-175 m<sup>2</sup>.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1"/> Juveniles of the species are known to be secretive and are usually only seen in holes in the vicinity of outer reef flats and reef margins.<ref name=":3" />
== Diet == A research study of ''C. amboinensis'' off of Oahu, Hawaii found that they have a diverse diet. They found 43.6% of algae, 12.7% of polychaetes, 4.7% of gastropods, and 3.2% unidentified in their stomachs.<ref name=":0" />
== Reproduction == The male tend to fertilize eggs as they hover near the nesting area in which a female is laying its eggs. Within one spawning site, the female lays her eggs for about 20–30 seconds. Females of ''C. amboinensis'' are reported to have about five different spawning bouts that last about 45–80 seconds each.<ref name=":0" />
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{SealifePhotos|219935}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q2549476}}
amboinensis Category:Taxa named by Pieter Bleeker Category:Fish described in 1864
{{Tetraodontiformes-stub}}