Genius in Nature

Developed their known inflatability because predators are able to seize them by swimming slowly and clumsily. Instead of trying to get away, pufferfish use their highly elastic stomachs and capacity to quickly consume large amounts of water, and even air when necessary, to form into a ball that is multiple times their normal size and virtually inedible.

Pufferfish are well known for their bizarre and extreme skin decorations, but it is still largely unknown how they acquired the spiky skin structures known as spines. The spine, which is developmentally distinct from scales and depends on the same gene network as other vertebrate animals’ feathers and hair, was retained by pufferfish despite losing its scale component.

Started: 18 April 2022

End: 15 June 2022

Located: Sungei Kadut

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