Japanese Fugu

Takifugu rubripes

Near Threatened Saltwater

最大体長

80.0 cm

最大体重

10.0 kg

体色

Dark brownish-gray back with scattered …

科

Tetraodontidae

カテゴリ

Food Fish

Overview

Celebrated and feared in equal measure, the Japanese pufferfish, or fugu, carries tetrodotoxin in its organs, a poison roughly 1,200 times more lethal than cyanide. Brownish-gray with white spots and a dark saddle behind the pectoral fin, it grows to about 80 centimetres in the sandy coastal shelves and estuaries of the northwestern Pacific from Korea and Japan to Taiwan. In Japan it is a luxury delicacy, its delicate, faintly gelatinous white flesh prepared as sashimi, hot pot, or grilled dishes only by specially licensed chefs. Its careful preparation is governed by strict national regulation, and the species is assessed as Near Threatened.

概要

The Japanese pufferfish, or fugu, contains tetrodotoxin, a poison 1,200 times more deadly than cyanide. Despite this, it is a prized delicacy in Japan, where specially licensed chefs prepare it as sashimi, hot pot, and grilled dishes.

Physical Description

Measurement	Value
Maximum Length	80.0 cm
Maximum Weight	10.0 kg

Coloration

Dark brownish-gray back with scattered white spots and a large dark saddle-like blotch behind the pectoral fin; belly pure white; subtle orange-yellow pigment around pectoral fin base.

Habitat & Distribution

Estuaries

水質タイプ

Saltwater

分布域

Northwestern Pacific Ocean from the Yellow Sea and East China Sea to the Sea of Japan. Ranges from Korea and Japan south to Taiwan; favors sandy and muddy coastal shelf areas and enters estuaries seasonally.

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Conservation Status

Near Threatened IUCN Red List

Japanese Fugu is classified as Near Threatened by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

食用・料理情報

味

Delicate, subtly flavored white flesh with a unique gelatinous texture; poisonous organs contain lethal tetrodotoxin. A Japanese luxury delicacy — preparation requires licensed chefs only.

Taxonomy

目	Tetraodontiformes (Pufferfish and allies)
科	Tetraodontidae (Pufferfish)
種	Takifugu rubripes

Names in Other Languages

Language	Name
Spanish	Fugu japonés

よくある質問

Can you eat Japanese Fugu?

Delicate, subtly flavored white flesh with a unique gelatinous texture; poisonous organs contain lethal tetrodotoxin. A Japanese luxury delicacy — preparation requires licensed chefs only.

How big does Japanese Fugu get?

Japanese Fugu can grow up to 80.0 cm long and weigh 10.0 kg.

Where is Japanese Fugu found?

Is Japanese Fugu endangered?

The conservation status of Japanese Fugu is Near Threatened according to the IUCN Red List.

What family does Japanese Fugu belong to?

Japanese Fugu (Takifugu rubripes) belongs to the family Tetraodontidae (Pufferfish) in the order Tetraodontiformes (Pufferfish and allies).