Somphong's puffer

Somphong's puffer
Female
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Division: Teleostei
Order: Tetraodontiformes
Family: Tetraodontidae
Genus: Carinotetraodon
Species:
C. lorteti
Binomial name
Carinotetraodon lorteti
(Tirant, 1885)
Synonyms
  • Carinotetraodon chlupatyi Benl, 1957
  • Monotreta tiranti d’Aubenton & Blanc, 1966
  • Tetraodon lorteti Tirant, 1885
  • Tetraodon somphongsi Klausewitz, 1957
  • Tetraodon werneri Benl & Chlupaty, 1957

Somphong's puffer, redeye puffer or crested puffer (Carinotetraodon lorteti) is a small freshwater pufferfish found in mainland Southeast Asia, such as Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. It is often found in canals and brackish waters along the coast; in the canals of Thonburi, Bangkok, for example, it may be found hiding in areas with dense water hyacinths.

Etymology

The common name of the species, as well as one of the junior synonyms (Tetraodon somphongsi to be precise), honors the Thai fish explorer and aquarium trader Somphong Lek-aree, who discovered three new freshwater fish species, namely the dwarf loach (Ambastaia sidthimunki), Poropuntius melanogrammus (formerly Puntius somphongsi), and Somphong's rasbora (Trigonostigma somphongsi).[2]

Description

The male has a ruby-red body and red eyes, and is significantly larger than the female. When fully matured, Somphong's puffer grows to about 7 cm (2.8 in) in length.[3]

Human interactions

Somphong's puffer can be found in the aquarium trade. In home aquarium settings, keeping this puffer in a heavily planted tank is recommended, since it is easily spooked, and relies on submerged plants for refuge in such situations.[4]

References

  1. ↑ "Carinotetraodon lorteti". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
  2. ↑ Kittipong Jaruthanin (story) and Kamphol Udomritthiruj (photo), ตามรอย... "หมูอารีย์" สัตว์สงวนแห่งสยาม (Following the trail of... "Dwarf Loach" protected fauna of Siam), Fish Zone, Vol. 3 Issue 24 (15 May - 15 June 2002) (in Thai)
  3. ↑ Wongkittiwejkul, Surasak (April 1997). สารานุกรมปลาไทย [Fishes of Thailand Encyclopedia] (in Thai). Bangkok: Aim Supply. p. 164. ISBN 978-974-89900-2-6.
  4. ↑ Robert (2021-03-16). "Red Eye Puffer Care Guide & Species Overview". Fishkeeping World. Retrieved 2026-05-21.