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Tripodfish
Family Triacanthidae
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The
Tripodfish does indeed have a tripod made out of its long, rigid pelvic
fins and tail. It can raise the stiff spines on the pelvic and dorsal
fins to make it difficult for a predator to swallow it.
Tripodfish are adapted for sandy or muddy coastal areas. Here, they
hunt for small fish and bottom-dwelling animals, sucking these up
with their pointed mouths. In the seagrass lagoon, you might come
across tiny tripodfish just a few centimetres long. Larger ones are
often stranded in pools or can be seen swimming about in the tidal
streams.
Human uses: Tripodfish are generally
not considered good eating. When caught by trawlers together with
other more marketable fish, tripodfish are considered trash. They
are wastefully thrown back, often dead. In some places, however, such
'trash' fish are converted into fish meal or fertiliser. One species,
the Short-nosed tripodfish (Triacanthus biaculeatus) is said
to be used in traditional Chinese medicine.
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Tiny tripodfish
Only a little bigger
than a seagrass leaf! |
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quick
facts
6-25cm, common in the seagrass lagoon
Classification:
OrderTetraodontiformes
Phylum Chordata |
