There are many strange things in the oceans. One of the most unusual is the puffer fish, of which there are some 100 species. It is given a variety of other names such as swellfish, sea porcupine, globefish, tiger puffer, etc. They are found in all the oceans, including several along the eastern and western shores of the United States.
Puffers are not pretty fish, except for a few of them such as the swellfish which is bright green above, and yellow on its sides and white underneath. The protruding eyes of most are unusual, sparkling green or blue and apparently able to see in just about every direction at once. But otherwise, these fish are not at all attractive, having bulging eyes, fat stomachs, rubbery fins and puckered mouths. Their skin is smooth and without scales.
The reason the title of this article says, “Beware the Puffer!” is because they are one of the most deadly fish in the seas — able to raise sharp spikes all over their bodies, able to bite with strong teeth, and, most importantly, able to kill with fits deadly poison, which will be discussed in next week’s issue.
Puffers, lacking a skeleton or ribs, can’t swim like other fish because their tails and fins are not able to propel them very well. Instead, they often just drift in the ocean with their fins not doing much good and their tails merely acting as rudders. Because of this, they do not like deep waters, but stay near shores where they find their food — clams, oysters, marine worms and even crabs and shrimp. The amazingly strong jaws and hard, sharp teeth the Creator has given them, easily crunch the toughest shellfish to get at the inner parts.
The name puffer describes them very well when they defend themselves. At the threat of danger, great amounts of water or air are gulped into their stomachs. Their tough, elastic skin stretches with each gulp until they are as round as a ball and two or three times their normal size. At such times, on most of them sharp spikes rise straight out of their bodies, and it is a rare thing for even a shark to tackle one. When the threat is over they return to normal size.
Do you think the Lord God, who created them, gives any thought to such strange fish? The Bible assures us that He does, telling us, “The Lord is good to all; and His tender mercies are over all His works.” Psalms 145:99The Lord is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works. (Psalm 145:9). We may not understand why such unusual creatures were included in His creation, but we can be sure He had a purpose in creating them and now watches over them as He watches over each of us.
When we think of this we should remember another scripture, “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.” Proverbs 15:33The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good. (Proverbs 15:3).
ML-04/27/1986