Comments on: Eat a Pufferfish and Die!

By: Steve Goodheart

Steve Goodheart — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:35:36 +0000

Thanks for the info on the pufferfish…and wow, what a GREAT fish reference site that FishBase is! Wow! Into the tool bag with that one!

By: MadDog

MadDog — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 22:05:39 +0000

I never collect live specimens of any kind and I stopped buying empty shells at the market many years ago. I know that it doesn’t slow down the collection of live specimens, but at least I am not contributing to the degrading of the reefs. I’m lucky enough to be able to observe and photograph without damaging.

I have to admit that my favourite cowrie is not very exciting. It’s the common Tiger Cowrie. Yes, we do have Map Cowries here. I have several in my collection. It’s also one of my favorites.

By: Fortescue Bullrout

Fortescue Bullrout — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 01:17:58 +0000

Thanks, MadDog. I collected cowries as a kid, but stopped when I realised what I was doing. These days there is excellent photography of the living animals, such as yours- much easier on the conscience, and the mantle is as pretty as the shell anyway.
You do the gorgeous nudibranch justice, too.
Do you have map cowries? A particular favorite.

By: MadDog

MadDog — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 23:22:05 +0000

At http://www.fishbase.org/trophiceco/DietCompoSummary.php?dietcode=6492&genusname=Arothron&speciesname=stellatus it indicates that their diet is molluscs, benthic crustaceans and echinoderms. That would explain the big, strong choppers.

By: MadDog

MadDog — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 22:21:14 +0000

Thanks for reading, Fortescue. If you put ‘cowrie’ in the search box in the sidebar you will find three posts with images and text about different cowries.

By: Fortescue Bullrout

Fortescue Bullrout — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 04:39:26 +0000

I am really enjoying your photography and reading about life in Madang. Any shots of cowries would be appreciated.

By: Steve Goodheart

Steve Goodheart — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 23:23:36 +0000

That Pufferfish has quite a set of teeth…is it a coral eater? Looks like it could chew on rock!

Lizardfish and tubeworms–man, you know how to make a guy happy, MadDog! (That inner structure in the tubeworm is indeed interesting…dont’ think I’ve seen that before.)