The Checkered Puffer lives in the Bahamas, the Caribbean, and Florida.  It usually appears in shallow bays, inlets and protected inshore waters with sea grass beds.  They usually rest on the bottom.

A Checkered Puffer we caught.

The Checkered Puffer fish usually isn’t on reefs.  Most puffer fish have red eyes.  The Checkered Puffer will inflate if disturbed.  The Porcupine fish lives in the same areas and usually lurk near cave openings.  They often peer out crevices where they can be closely observed.  They have little black spots all over their body.  It can change from a light color to a dark color.  The porcupine fish will inflate if disturbed.

This is a Porcupine fish we saw snorkeling.

If they inflate, they have big spines that will stick out.

Cole…