Sea lions are the adorable dogs of the ocean, but lacking balls to play with, they play with the next best thing — fish that turn into balls when threatened. Puffer fish inflate into a ball when frightened, much to the delight of sea lions, who use them in a game that has been dubbed "pufferball." Dolphins have been known to pester puffer fish to get high on their neurotoxin, and sea lions may also be partaking in the "puff, puff, pass" of the sea. If so, it's a dangerous game.
Pufferball might be a risky game. While pufferfish tend to be easy targets because they're slow and, when harrassed [sic], change into a tempting-to-bop ball by sucking water or air into their elastic stomachs, many are covered with spikes. Most dangerous of all, the majority of the 200 or so species of pufferfish contain a potentially lethal neurotoxin called tetrodotoxin, concentrated in their liver and ovaries. Only a handful of specialized creatures actually prey on pufferfish, including tiger sharks and sea snakes. But in Japan, pufferfish flesh, called fugu, is a delicacy—as long as it's prepared to avoid the poisonous parts. Even when properly prepared, diners can sometimes experience tingles and lightheadedness.
According to photographer Henley Spiers, who has captured some stunning images of pufferball, "Other favourite games include chase the starfish; check out this stick; chewing on gravel; and bite the diver's long hair." Sadly, there do not appear to be any photos of the other games.
Previously:
• The fascinating, deadly pufferfish
• Japan blasts food recall over loudspeakers after people buy potentially lethal fugu fish
