PUFFER FISH

The Guinean Pufferfish (Sphoeroides marmoratus) is one of the most charming and curious characters you’ll encounter on Tenerife’s sandy bottoms. Locally known as Tamboril, it is easily recognized by its rounded body, marbled pattern of dark spots, and large, expressive eyes that seem to watch every diver with curiosity.

While they may look slow and clumsy, these pufferfish are highly specialized survivors. When threatened, they have the incredible ability to inflate their bodies by swallowing water, turning into a prickly ball to deter predators. They spend much of their time partially buried in the sand or hovering just above it, searching for small crustaceans with their powerful, beak-like teeth.

Watching a Guinean Pufferfish go about its day is a lesson in patience and stealth. Their presence adds a touch of personality to the Canary Islands' reefs, reminding us that even the smallest reef inhabitants have extraordinary ways to protect themselves.