Common name: Macaronesian sharpnose-puffer.
Scientific name: Canthigaster capistrata (Lowe, 1839)
Family: Tetraodontidae
Distribution and Habitat: Coastal species which inhabits rocky areas and tide wells that have algae.
Description: Oval body and small mouth, eyes located close to the upper contour of the head. It has no pelvic fins and the dorsal and anal fins are placed on the back part of the body. Instead of scales, it has spines on its abdomen and on its head. Its colouration is brownish grey on the dorsal and white part of the belly, having several blue dots on the body, from the snout to the tail peduncle. It reaches 10 cm in length.
Conservation statute and Threats: Not evaluated.
Observations: Some internal organs, like the liver and the gonads, are extremely poisonous due to the high concentration of tetraodontoxin. It has no commercial value.
