This is the most common of the Arothron puffers at Kwajalein. They can be seen on seaward, pinnacle and lagoon reefs, either singly or in pairs. The color is usually mostly gray, although partial or nearly completely yellow forms are not uncommon. All forms have the sparsely scattered black freckles visible in the photos below. We have seen one specimen that appeared to be a hybrid between this species and A. meleagris.
Juvenile.
The one below has an unusually mottled appearance.
The next individual carries an external parasite, seen in the closeup below.
The parasite from the specimen above.
Created 22 October 2010
Updated 22 April 2020