Small yellow fish with a rounded body shape, dark irregular bands, large eyes, and buck teeth.

Amazon puffer

Colomesus asellus
Where at Shedd?
Amazon Rising
Diet Snails, worms, other crustaceans, insects, plant matter
Size Up to 5 inches (12.8 cm)
Type Fishes
Range Northern South America
Habitat Amazon, Orinoco, Essequibo River basins

About the Amazon puffer

This relatively small freshwater puffer is found primarily in Brazil. Unlike many other members of their family, the Amazon puffer prefers to swim in groups, or shoals.

Did you know?

  1. A puffer fish only “puffs up” their body with air or water to discourage attacking predators. Once safe, they expel and return to normal size.

  2. The world has several different species of puffer that range in habitat and size. Look for other puffers in the Caribbean Reef, Wild Reef and Rivers Galleries.