[5] Takifugu is Japanese for puffer and rubripes comes from the Latin ruber and pēs meaning ruddy foot.

Spawning occurs in estuaries; young fish can tolerate a wide range of salinities and will remain in river mouths and lagoons, maturing for one year before migrating permanently to the open ocean.

The result has increased appetite and weight gain, growing on average 1.9 times faster than normal torafugu.

The toxin is highly concentrated in liver and ovaries, slightly present in the intestines and flesh, and absent from skin and testes.

Gear restrictions (most catches occur by longline fishing) and adjustments of fishery seasons to protect juveniles have been recommended to aid recovery.