Porcupine fish - Kōpūtōtara

Porcupine fish are slow swimmers found in rocky reefs from 5–100 m deep, mainly in northern NZ. They crush hard-shelled prey like molluscs and crustaceans with their fused teeth. When threatened, they inflate their bodies up to 3x their size and extend sharp spines. They also carry a deadly neurotoxin, tetrodotoxin, as a defence. With a rugby ball shape, clumsy swim style, and spiky armour, these fish are as unique as they are tough!