Is there a proper name...

[Christemo]

... for the eyebrow like things on our puffer's faces? I always just call them eyebrows, but I didn't know if there was an actual term to use.

[DRRT]

they are some sensory thing they use for smell

corvus knows the details

[Corvus]

Yep, nostrils, nasal tubes, nasal organs (probably most often used), olfactory organs are technical terms used for these things. Some have been studied regarding their function.

All puffers have them, but they are quite small at tobies and Carinotetraodons. If you look closely you can see them, too.

Puffers have a very good sense of smell... not as good as sharks or morays, but better than most fishes.

What are they good for aside smelling? Differentiating puffers!
The puffer genera like Marilyna, Takifugu, Chelonodon, Arothron, Monotrete... are often told apart by the shape of these nasal organs, in contrast species are differentiated often by color, shape and other features.


(from an older post)

[SeeingGreen]

Thank you for this thread. I have seen them on my gsp's and never questioned it, just called them eyebrows.

[Nick]

I believe they have been refereed to as "nose danglers" on TPF before, and it's still my favorite term.

[pinkfloydpuffer]

Haha, I always just called them eyebrows too...

[Pufferpunk]

Nope, nosebrows!

[yunachin]

Heh heh...nose danglers...nose brows...
They look like eye-fluffies to me.

[Jase]

They look like eye-fluffies to me.

Is that a better name for those booger things...?
That's what they look like to me