{{Short description|Species of fish}} {{Speciesbox | name = | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{Cite journal | author = Akinyi, E. | author2 = Azeroual, A. | author3 = Bousso, T. | author4 = Getahun, A. | author5 = Lalèyè, P. | name-list-style = amp | title = ''Tetraodon lineatus'' | journal = The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species | volume = 2010 | page = e.T181807A7740095 | publisher = IUCN | date = 2010 | url = http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/181807/0 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2010-3.RLTS.T181807A7740095.en | access-date = 14 January 2018| doi-access = free }}</ref> | image = TetraodonLineatus.JPG | taxon = Tetraodon lineatus | authority = Linnaeus, 1758 | range_map = Tetraodon lineatus Map.jpg }}
The '''fahaka pufferfish''' (from {{langx|ar|فهقة}}), also known as the '''Nile puffer''', '''globe fish''', '''lined puffer''' ('''''Tetraodon lineatus'''''), is a tropical freshwater pufferfish found in the upper Nile, Chad, Senegal, Gambia, Geba, Volta and Turkana basins in West, Northeast and East Africa.<ref name=IUCN/><ref name="fishbase">{{FishBase | genus = Tetraodon | species = lineatus | year = 2017 | month = January}}</ref>
==Characteristics== [[File:Tetraodon lineatus 14553852.jpg|left|thumb|211x211px|Inflated. In Ethiopia.]] Fahaka pufferfish can reach up to {{convert|43|cm|ft|abbr=on|1}} in length.<ref name="fishbase"/> They have the ability to inflate when threatened and, like many puffers, carry the toxin tetrodotoxin.<ref name="fishbase" />
Fahaka pufferfish, like other molluscivores, feed mainly on benthic organisms which may include freshwater mussels and snails.<ref name="fishbase" /> They are typically found in large rivers, open water, weed beds and vegetated fringes.<ref name="fishbase" />
In the River Nile, the recorded average lifespans of Fahaka pufferfish have measured about five years.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last1=AbouelFadl |first1=Khaled |last2=Farrag |first2=Mahmoud M.S. |title=Biology and population dynamics of the freshwater puffer fish, Tetraodon lineatus (Linnaeus, 1758), from the River Nile, Aswan, Egypt. |url=https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejar.2020.09.005 |journal=Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Research |date=2021 |volume=47 |issue=1 |pages=75–80 |doi=10.1016/j.ejar.2020.09.005 |via=Elsevier Science Direct|doi-access=free }}</ref>
Researchers AbouelFadl and Farrag have measured the gonadosomatic index of the Fahaka pufferfish to increase from April to August. They have interpreted these readings to suggest a spawning season during this period.<ref name=":0" />
== Gallery == <gallery mode="packed" heights="110"> File:Tetraodon lineatus 14553846.jpg|Inflated, Ethiopia File:Tetraodon lineatus - Fahaka Puffer (8767208722).jpg File:Tetraodon lineatus 1907.jpg|1907 illustration </gallery>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q2419159}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:pufferfish, fahaka}} fahaka pufferfish fahaka pufferfish fahaka pufferfish