balloonfish
- noun
- /bəˈluːnˌfɪʃ/
- A balloonfish has short spines and a rounded, balloon-like body.
Examples
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At the aquarium, we saw a balloonfish inflate its body in response to a tap on the glass.
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Many balloonfishes can be found in tropical waters.
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Divers were delighted to spot a balloonfish hiding among the coral reefs.
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The balloonfish inflated its body when it sensed a predator nearby.
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The balloonfish inflated itself when a predator approached.
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When threatened, a balloonfish can rapidly inflate its body to avoid predators.
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The balloonfish is known for its unique ability to inflate when feeling threatened.
Synonyms
A fish that swells up and has poison that can be deadly
A fish that becomes round and is often poisonous
A fish with long spines that puffs up when scared and lives near warm coral reefs
A tropical or subtropical sea fish with spines that can puff up when threatened
A fish from warm seas that puffs up and shows sharp spines to protect itself
A warm sea fish with spines that stand out when it puffs up
A group of freshwater and sea pufferfish from Africa and Asia that can puff up their bodies
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
The word balloonfish comes from balloon (a bag you 'fill with air' to make it round) and fish, because this small sea fish can puff up and look like a balloon when it feels danger. So the name tells you the fish's most famous trick.