Tyler's Toby

Canthigaster tyleri

Tyler's Toby is a small marine fish that can reach a maximum length of 9 cm. It has a distinctive globular body that is slightly compressed laterally. Divers can identify this fish by its elongated snout and small terminal mouth. Its body is predominantly whitish, adorned with red spots on the sides, while the back displays a yellow to green hue with a network of blue lines extending from the caudal fin to the snout. The eye is encircled by a white ring that is open at the top, and the fins are translucent. This species is found in the Indian Ocean, with a distribution that includes islands from western Indonesia to Tanzania. Tyler's Toby prefers reef and lagoon habitats, often hiding in holes and crevices, displaying a secretive nature. It inhabits depths ranging from 1 to 40 meters. Its diet consists of various algae, sponges, and small invertebrates. Like many members of the Tetraodontidae family, Tyler's Toby can produce and store tetrodotoxin, a potent neurotoxin, in its skin and certain internal organs. Tyler's Toby is oviparous, meaning it lays eggs. When diving, encountering this fish can be a subtle experience due to its secretive behavior, often spotted hiding under ledges or within reef structures. The IUCN lists this species as Least Concern.