Creatures in Crisis
Photograph of Redline pufferfish (Tetraodon pustulatus), recorded as Endangered
Redline pufferfish (Tetraodon pustulatus). Image via Wikimedia Commons.

Endangered

Redline pufferfish

Tetraodon pustulatus

Redline pufferfish is a freshwater pufferfish endemic to the Cross River system in south-western Nigeria.

Status
Endangered
Scientific name
Tetraodon pustulatus
Taxonomy
Tetraodontiformes · Tetraodontidae · Tetraodon

Appearance

It resembles T. Lineatus but typically has a shorter body, broader head, thicker lips, smaller eyes, and darker or red-toned colouration with reduced vertical striping.

Redline pufferfish reaches approximately 36 cm in length.

Range and habitat

Redline pufferfish occurs exclusively in the Cross River drainage of south-western Nigeria. It inhabits clear, shaded rainforest streams and tributaries where water is soft and acidic. Redline pufferfish is a freshwater pufferfish endemic to the Cross River system in south-western Nigeria.

Pins are Wikidata “endemic to” fields. Orange dots, when present, are GBIF occurrence tiles — survey bias included.

Diet

T. Pustulatus feeds on crustaceans, molluscs, and aquatic insects. Reproduction has not been recorded in the wild, but spawning is presumed to coincide with early-season rainfall.

In crisis

It belongs to the family Tetraodontidae and is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List due to its restricted distribution and ongoing habitat degradation. The species is assessed as Endangered under IUCN criteria B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii). Collection for the aquarium trade is limited but may contribute to local decline.

Redline pufferfish is Endangered on this catalog because that is the IUCN category stored on Wikidata. Confirm the official criteria and any later count on iucnredlist.org.

Sources

Written for this catalog from the English Wikipedia article on Redline pufferfish, Wikidata item Q2336231. Family and order context is original field-guide writing about the group, not a copied assessment of this one species. Wikipedia text is CC BY-SA. Not an IUCN assessment. Counts, when quoted, can change — confirm them on the recovery programme and on iucnredlist.org.

Photograph via Wikimedia Commons. Wikipedia · Wikidata · IUCN Red List.

Also in this catalog

Photograph of Vaquita (Phocoena sinus), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Vaquita

Phocoena sinus
Photograph of Javan rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Javan rhinoceros

Rhinoceros sondaicus
Photograph of Sumatran orangutan (Pongo abelii), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Sumatran orangutan

Pongo abelii
Photograph of Axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum), recorded as Critically EndangeredCR

Axolotl

Ambystoma mexicanum

Quick answers

What is Redline pufferfish?
Redline pufferfish is a ray-finned fish in the family Tetraodontidae (order Tetraodontiformes) — Tetraodon pustulatus.
What is the conservation status of Redline pufferfish?
Endangered, as the IUCN category stored on Wikidata for Tetraodon pustulatus. Confirm the official assessment on iucnredlist.org.
Where does Redline pufferfish live?
Redline pufferfish occurs exclusively in the Cross River drainage of south-western Nigeria.
Why is Redline pufferfish in crisis?
It belongs to the family Tetraodontidae and is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List due to its restricted distribution and ongoing habitat degradation.
Is this the IUCN Red List page for Tetraodon pustulatus?
No. This is a researched catalog account. The Red List is the assessment.
Is Redline pufferfish a pet?
An animal on this catalog is in crisis in the wild. Keeping one is usually the wrong question.