Porcupinefish

The porcupinefish is a heavy-bodied, big-eyed fish covered in long, sharp spines that lie flat until the animal gulps water and balloons into a rigid, prickly sphere as a defence against predators. Its brownish body is peppered with dark spots, and it uses a strong fused beak to crush hard-shelled prey.

It is widespread along the South African coast, from KZN reefs to the estuaries and rocky shallows of the Eastern Cape, sheltering in caves and under ledges by day and foraging for molluscs, crabs and urchins at night. Divers frequently find them hovering quietly in cover. They should never be handled or provoked into inflating, and like other members of this family their flesh can carry toxins, so they are not eaten.