Porcupinefish

The porcupinefish is another spiny puffer.  This species can inflate when molested.  Their puffed-up size and erected spines dissuade most anything that wants to try and eat it. They are rather shy, and often swim away from divers.  They hide in reef recesses, which is sometimes the best place to photograph them. They get up to 3 feet long, although these fish were only about 2 feet long.  The photos were taken at depths of 35 to 45 feet.