Blowfish are also called Pufferfish. They got their name from their ability to inflate themselves when threatened. They can inflate up to twice their normal size by swallowing water or air. If this doesn’t scare the predators away their last defense lies in their ability to deliver a powerful neurotoxin, which make them a lethal meal for most predators. The toxin is about 1200 times deadlier than cyanide.

The eyes and internal organs of most pufferfish are highly toxic but its meat is still considered a delicacy in Japan. It is only cooked by specially-trained chefs who know how to minimize the amount of poison in the fish. Even so, several Japanese people have died from eating it!

The pufferfish can be found mostly in salt water, near coral reefs or the shore. But some species also live in fresh water. Pufferfish are also one of few kinds of fish that can blink or close their eyes.