Circle-barred Puffer
Canthigaster ocellicincta
- Usual depth14–42 m
- Water temperature24–30 °C
- Best monthsMay
- How commonRare
About this species
Canthigaster ocellicincta, commonly known as the shy toby, is a species of pufferfish in the family Tetraodontidae. It is native to the Western Pacific where it ranges from Indonesia and the Philippines to Fiji, the Ryukyu Islands, the Great Barrier Reef, and New Caledonia, although it has recently been recorded from Tonga. It occurs at a depth range of 10 to 53 m and reaches 7.5 cm SL. The species is usually seen in invertebrate-rich reef caves at more than 25 m (82 ft) depth. While generally found alone or in pairs, although small groups have been reported on at least one occasion. It is noted to be a very secretive species that feeds on algae and small invertebrates.
Text from the Wikipedia article “Canthigaster ocellicincta”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the article
Where and when
Where it has been recorded
Worldwide
Loading the map
Best months
Worldwide (open data)
- January: 0 records
- February: 2 records
- March: 1 records
- April: 1 records
- May: 12 records
- June: 3 records
- July: 2 records
- August: 0 records
- September: 2 records
- October: 5 records
- November: 7 records
- December: 3 records
Depth and water temperature
Depth
Mostly recorded at 14–42 m · Deepest record: 52.5 m
Water temperature
Recorded in surface water of 24–30 °C
Names and classification
- English
- Circle-barred Puffer, Circle-barred Pufferfish, Circle-barred Toby, Shy Toby
Names in 3 more languages
- Spanish
- Tamborín tímido
- French
- Canthigaster timide
- Japanese
- Kumadorikinchakufugu, クマドリキンチャクフグ
Similar species
Spider-eye pufferCanthigaster amboinensis
Bennett's sharpnose pufferCanthigaster bennetti
Compressed TobyCanthigaster compressa
Spotted pufferCanthigaster janthinoptera
False-eyed PufferfishCanthigaster papua
Spotted sharpnoseCanthigaster solandri
Sources and credits
Names and taxonomy: WoRMS (CC BY 4.0) and the GBIF Backbone (CC BY 4.0). Photos: iNaturalist observers, each under the licence shown (CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA).
- Depth, temperature, months and maps: records from OBIS and GBIF under CC0 or CC BY.
- Descriptions: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA, each linked to its article.
- Conservation status as published by GBIF (IUCN Red List).
- 44 open-data records from 1973 to 2013.
- Species data updated October 26, 2026.
Log what you see on your next dive
The free DiveHive diver app keeps your logbook with every sighting and shows what lives at the site you dive next.