About
A round body covered in long spines that normally lie flat, pointing backward. It has a pale tan body with large brown blotches, small black spots, and big, friendly-looking eyes.
When threatened, it gulps water to puff itself up like a balloon, and its spines stand on end. Its Japanese name means “a thousand needles,” but it actually has only about 300 to 400 spines.
Its teeth are fused into a beak, strong enough to crush the hard shells of snails, crabs and sea urchins.
In Fish Around
It moves its small fins rapidly and cruises along slowly at a steady pace.
