Most pufferfish produce a toxin called tetrodotoxin, which can be deadly to predators, including humans. That’s why, if you ever feel tempted to try eating one, it must be prepared by a specially trained chef.
Would you try it? We weren’t so brave. We simply passed by an aquarium tank filled with pufferfish, waiting in front of a restaurant in Osaka for hungry diners. It felt much better to just admire them and their clever defence tactics from a safe distance.
There’s actually a great documentary on Netflix that follows a pufferfish from its early days to adulthood – well worth a watch if you’re curious.
My drawings here are dedicated to two young nature enthusiasts obsessed with fish – Elliot and Hal from Sallins :) I was thinking about you two when drawing these!
