So I noticed

[Content2Swell]

TPF doesn't have a listing for Monotrete Leiurus, does it?

[groovitudedude]

TPF is lacking several puffers, mostly because they are either very rare or not seen in the aquarium trade often.

[Content2Swell]

I was hoping to find more information about the differences between M. leiurus and M. Cochinchinensis. Looking around online, I am convinved that what I have is...both. Are they synonymous or is there some other difference?

[Corvus]

leiurus have really long snouts > 2times eye diameter, cochinchinensis have short snouts.

[Content2Swell]

o_@ is that it? I really don't know what would be the difference between normal or extended prognathism in a puffer.
I really need to post a pic, and I will, I promise, I just need to get some stuff to do it (that, and they never really come out of their hidey holes).
[EDIT]
I just nicked these picks from google....I can't tell the diff. I know the second looks a little lighter, but that doesn't really mean anything, does it? Mine change brightness all day long.

fishy.JPG

[Umbrella]

Both of the photos above are Cochinchinensis. A Black target with red dot in the center. they can change their colors very drastically, but the target will remain visible.

Here is a video of a (supposed) Leiurus :
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid ... GsDA&hl=en

Here is a photo of someone else who thinks they have a Leiurus:
http://www.7680.cn/bbs/UploadFile/2005- ... 213371.jpg

Look at both and decide for yourself. Both websites get the names and pictures of every other puffer correct...so that gives them some credibility in my book. Although they show 2 puffers whom appear to be quite different.

In my searchings I have found that 'Leiurus' is also the name of a Scorpion, known as the Deathstalker. It is supposedly a very toxic Scorpion, the deadliest on Earth. Its full name is 'Leiurus Quinquestriatus'

This is just a guess, but .. whichever puffer behaves more like this scorpion is the real true Leiurus. According to the pic and video in the links I posted above... I would say the picture is the true one. The one in the video didn't look too dangerous or mean...but the one in the image just looks intimidating. On the flip side, the one in the image looks more like a Barbatus to me with the large black spot. So I dunno... you should look for yourself to decide. I just gathered some infos and pics etc..

The Leiurus IMO would be the expert assassin.

O and listen to Corvus He knows his ish. errr fish

[Content2Swell]

Thanks for the links/advice. The puffer in the photo's spots look like a giraffe-ish design, mine are more spotty.
Also, through looking through MANY more photos today, I want to ask about Turgidus as well. When I very first brought the first one home that is what I thought I had, but then I ruled it out for some reason and can't remember why.

When I try to look up a Latin translation of leiurus it come up with: Leiurus (Greek), smooth(?) + tail

[Umbrella]

Thanks for the links/advice. The puffer in the photo's spots look like a giraffe-ish design, mine are more spotty.
Also, through looking through MANY more photos today, I want to ask about Turgidus as well. When I very first brought the first one home that is what I thought I had, but then I ruled it out for some reason and can't remember why.

When I try to look up a Latin translation of leiurus it come up with: Leiurus (Greek), smooth(?) + tail

Well this be a pic of a Turgidus :
http://www.7680.cn/bbs/UploadFile/2005- ... 019342.jpg

Looks significantly different to me

As for the Smooth? + tail thing ? Maybe it is just that simple... IDK maybe try a google image search on the scorpion and look at its tail... then look at those pics/vids and your puff again ? I will continue to look around.

EDIT: Here take a look at this pages definition for the scorpion:
http://encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.c ... uestriatus

The name Leiurus quinquestriatus roughly translates into English as "five-striped smooth-tail". Other species of the genus Leiurus are often referred to as "deathstalkers" as well.

[Content2Swell]

Either my google is broken, or I'm not sifting through enough pics. Every search I do, on any of the three, brings up a lot of photos that look exactly alike (but not the same photo, heh). Then is bring up other fish that have nothing to do with my search. Like hispidus. That dog follows me everywhere ;P

[Corvus]

@content: Your two pictures show indeed no leiurus as UMB already noted, these fish have shoirt snouts. Don't trust the internet too much on difficult topics like target puffers, more misinformation than truth. Google cannot replace books so far.

Most or all of those imported as M. cambodgiensis (or with the old synonym barbatus) are actually M. leiurus. Even more confusing those imported as M. leiurus are mostly something else like M. cochinchinensis (formerly seen as a short snouted subspecies T. leiurus brevirostris). This is a nice leiurus:

http://www.tropicalfishfinder.co.uk/dbi ... atus-3.jpg

The name leiurus comes from the greek word "leios", which in fact means "smooth". The first who examined this species thought it had no spines. More detailled examinations showed it has very small spines just like other puffers.

[Umbrella]

Either my google is broken, or I'm not sifting through enough pics. Every search I do, on any of the three, brings up a lot of photos that look exactly alike (but not the same photo, heh). Then is bring up other fish that have nothing to do with my search. Like hispidus. That dog follows me everywhere ;P

Sometimes you have to try searching for a totally non-related puff and you get lucky. Other times I have found info on pages in other languages like German and Greek. Then I just have Google translate the web page. I search Web, Image and Video ... just to see what I get. Most times I find stuff by accident. Tis a very crappy system.

[Content2Swell]

Google cannot replace books so far.

I really don't like trusting the internet for information, but it is the only thing I have at hand. I have searched for books on puffers, but apparently aquariums aren't a big thing in NM.

[Content2Swell]

BOOYAH! I said I'd get pictures.
Well at least I have one, I still need the other to come out of his hidey-hole.

P1010037.JPG

So this *definately* is cochinchinensis?

[Content2Swell]

.....can these puffers bury themselves? I mean, do they like to? I've just moved one (the one that hides most) to a larger, more planted tank and I can't find him. I looked in all of the caves and he is just nowhere. I wouldn't be so worried about it, but I've never noticed either of them bury themselves before.
When a puffer does bury itself, can you see a lump in the substrate, or is it pretty flat?

[Corvus]

So this *definately* is cochinchinensis?

Look at the side of the puffer.

Adult cochinchinensis do have a black or red ocellus (target spot).
Young cochinchinensis do always have an ocellus (often red).
Young turgidus can have an ocellus.
Adult turgidus do NOT have a target spot significantly larger than the other spots.

From the picture you posted my first guess would be a turgidus (compare to pufferpedia).
A side picture and a picture of the other one would be helpful.