Threebar Porcupinefish
Threebar Porcupinefish can be found all over Sydney, even in the most unlikely places.
Like all Pufferfish, Toadfish and Porcupinefish, they contain a poison that is 1000 times more toxic than cyanide. Voodoo priests used a tiny dose of this poison to paralyse victims and make them appear dead. After burying them alive, they would dig them back up to create ‘the walking dead’. These fish create zombies... literally.
Fortunately we are not aware of any practising Voodoo priests in Sydney at the moment which explains general lack of zombies roaming the streets. In fact there’s no need to be afraid of Sydney Porcupinefish at all – they are completely harmless unless you eat or lick one. Yes, people have tried to lick them and it has rarely turned out well.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE THREEBAR PORCUPINEFISH
A few more facts from the people that know more about the marine life of Sydney than anyone else.
More info from the
Australian Museum