Fish
Star Blaasop
Arothron stellatus
A large pufferfish of KZN reefs, pale and densely covered in small black spots; highly toxic if eaten.
Also known as blaasop(star), star puffer, starry puffer, starry toadfish
- Typical size
- Commonly 40-80 cm
- Habitat
- Coastal and coral reefs with adjacent sand
- Depth
- Shallows to about 55 m
The star blaasop is one of the biggest pufferfish on KwaZulu-Natal reefs, a rounded, thick-bodied fish that is pale grey to whitish and peppered all over with small black spots and dashes, including across the belly. Like all puffers it can inflate with water when threatened, and it uses fused beak-like teeth to crush hard invertebrates.
Divers find it cruising slowly over reef and sand, unhurried and easy to approach. The flesh and organs contain tetrodotoxin and are extremely poisonous, so it must never be eaten and is best released unharmed if caught. Keep fingers away from the powerful beak.