What Happens When an Osprey Catches a Toxic Pufferfish?
close up of inflated puffer fish (as known as blow fish or balloon fish)© AKKHARAT JARUSILAWONG/Shutterstock.com (© AKKHARAT JARUSILAWONG/Shutterstock.com)
An osprey got more than it bargained for when it grabbed a pufferfish out of the water, probably hoping for a tasty snack. As the video above shows, the pufferfish used its formidable defenses and inflated into a rigid, grapefruit-sized ball covered in sandpaper-like spikes.
Wildlife photographer Mark Smith captured the unexpected moment in full detail, but he didn’t get to see the outcome. What does an osprey do with an awkward-to-hold and highly toxic catch?
Ospreys hunt by plunging feet first into the water to grab a fish.©Wang LiQiang/Shutterstock.comHow Ospreys Hunt for Slippery Prey
Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) are large raptors that hunt by soaring over water and diving in, feet first, to grab fish with their sharp talons. Their feet have special adaptations to help them catch slippery fish and hold on tight. An osprey’s diet is made up almost entirely of fish, including mullet, perch, and suckers.
Two toes in front and two behind, plus barbed pads on the soles of their feet, help them grasp their prey tightly as they carry it to their nest or feeding site.
The Flawless Defense Mechanism of Pufferfish
Pufferfish tend to swim in shallow waters in reefs and coastlines, making them available prey for raptors soaring overhead. When the osprey in the video snatched the pufferfish from the water, the fish was likely not inflated.
Pufferfish appear as normal streamlined fish when they aren’t puffed up in defense.©scubadesign/Shutterstock.com
Pufferfish inflate when threatened. When they aren’t puffed up, they look like standard fish. This pufferfish, which appears to be a checkered puffer (Sphoeroides testudineus), likely inflated itself as soon as it felt the osprey’s talons grab hold.
A Bemusing Moment Captured on Camera
Smith caught the exact moment the osprey flew through the air with the bloated pufferfish in its talons. “This was a fly by which is usually the case. I have no idea of the outcome,” Smith responded to a commenter on Instagram.
Are Ospreys Immune to Pufferfish Poison?
Although Smith didn’t see the aftermath of the catch, the bird probably dropped the fish at some point. Not only is a rigid, tight, ball-like fish difficult to carry, but many pufferfish are highly toxic. Most puffers, including the checkered puffer, contain tetrodotoxin (TTX).
The yellowspotted pufferfish is one of the most toxic pufferfish.©Rich Carey/Shutterstock.com
Despite internet myths, ospreys are not immune to this potent neurotoxin. However, not all puffers are poisonous. For example, the northern puffer (Sphoeroides maculatus) contains no neurotoxins and is a common meal for ospreys.
As for the pufferfish in the video, we can assume it probably took a brief ride through the air before being dropped by the osprey. Despite the osprey’s incredible hunting skills, it can’t eat a highly toxic fish.
Source: Nature
