Fish of the Maldives

A Guide to Common Reef Fish

Black-spotted Pufferfish

Arothron nigropunctatus


Can range in colors from white to yellow to bluish grey.  Also known as the "seal-faced" pufferfish due to its appearance.

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Pufferfish and Filefish

Guineafowl Pufferfish

Arothron meleagris

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Saddled Pufferfish

Canthigaster valentini


Small pufferfish,  only up to 10 cm.

Careful with identification!  The Mimic Filefish looks exactly the same, except the filefish's fins are long and transparent, versus the stubby  paddle-like fins on the pufferfish.

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Honeycomb Filefish

Cantherhines pardalis


Not related to pufferfish, but put here so you can comprae the long transparent dorsal fin to the short stubby paddle fins of of the pufferfish above.

Yellow Boxfish

Ostracion cubicus


Another one similar-looking to a pufferfish