It is distinguished from the porcupinefish by the shorter, less sharply pointed, and immovable spines which cover the somewhat spherical body. It can inflate its body by taking either air or water into a ventral extension of the stomach.
This species differs from the porcupinefish in having shorter, less sharp, and immobile spines covering its roughly spherical body. It can expand its body by filling it with either air or water through a ventral part of the stomach.