Bullseye Pufferfish

The Bullseye Pufferfish is a small, rotund puffer with a distinctive pattern of dark rings and spots that give it its apt common name. Found in shallow tropical and subtropical waters of the eastern Pacific, it frequents rocky reefs, kelp beds, and sandy bottoms where it feeds on hard-shelled invertebrates—its beak-like teeth are visible and powerful. Like other puffers, it inflates when threatened, though divers should observe from a distance and avoid handling, as the defensive display is stressful and the species can be toxic.