purple puffer; Takifugu porphyreus
A species of pufferfish found in the Northwest Pacific, known for its purple coloration. Used as a food fish in Japan, but requires careful preparation due to toxicity.
The purple puffer is a high-class fish in season during winter.
Purple puffers are often sold at this market.
Tiger puffer, another prized species, often more expensive than マフグ.
Katakana spelling is common for this fish name; usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling is rare; the fish is normally written in kana.
The name マフグ (真河豚) literally means 'true puffer', using 真 (ma) as a prefix for 'true' or 'genuine'. The derivation is straightforward, but the exact historical origin of the species name is uncertain.