Glass Display of Two Diodon (Pufferfish)

A glass display case holding two preserved diodon, or pufferfish, makes a striking curiosity for a shelf, desk or cabinet of natural history pieces. Each specimen is mounted on a slender rod rising from a turned black wood base, spines fully extended in the defensive posture that defines the species.

When threatened, the diodon inflates with water or air and raises its spines to discourage predators. These examples have been naturalised and carefully prepared, retaining a pale, textured surface and the dense radial spines that give the fish its singular outline. The pair sits side by side inside a reclaimed glass box with a dark metal frame, small ball feet and a slightly aged finish visible along the edges.

The case reads as a cabinet specimen rather than a novelty: clear glass on all sides, a dark base that grounds the mounts, and enough space around each fish for the spines to read clearly. It suits a study, library or quiet corner where unusual natural forms are collected alongside books, maps and other found objects. Note that living diodon carry tetrodotoxin in the liver; these are prepared display pieces only.