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Dwarf pufferfish

Carinotetraodon travancoricus
Carinotetraodon travancoricus 2.JPG
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Tetraodontiformes
Family: Tetraodontidae
Genus: Carinotetraodon
Species: C. travancoricus
Binomial name
Carinotetraodon travancoricus
(Hora & K. K. Nair, 1941)

The dwarf pufferfish (Carinotetraodon travancoricus), also known as the Malabar pufferfish (leading to easy confusion with the related C. imitator), pea pufferfish or pygmy pufferfish, is a small, freshwater pufferfish endemic to Kerala and southern Karnataka in Southwest India. It is endangered by being caught for the pet trade, and by habitat loss.

The maximum documented size is 3.5 cm (1.4 in), making it one of the smallest pufferfish in the world. Although closely related to marine pufferfish, they are not found in salt water, and reports to the contrary are based on misidentification.

The dwarf pufferfish is endemic to Kerala and southern Karnataka in the Western Ghats of Peninsular India. In Kerala it is known from 13 rivers (as well as estuaries), including Chalakudy, Pamba, Periyar, Kabani, Bharathappuzha, Muvattupuzha, Achenkovil and Vamanapuram. It is also known from other freshwater habitats in the region such as Lake Vembanad and the Thrissur Kole Wetlands.

The dwarf pufferfish is classified as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List due to habitat loss and overharvesting for the aquarium trade. It remains common in some rivers, but it is rare in others and overall it has been estimated that the species declined by 30–40% from 2005 to 2015. Dwarf pufferfish are found in some reserves such as the Neyyar Wildlife Sanctuary.


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