balloonfish

noun

Meaning

A marine fish capable of inflating its body into a sphere when alarmed, often covered in spines for defense.

Examples

  • The diver carefully observed the balloonfish as it expanded to ward off a nearby shark.
  • Many species of balloonfish are found in tropical waters where they hide among coral reefs.

Synonyms: pufferfish, blowfish, globefish, tetraodontid