Pufferfish are frequently confused by name with a similar fish in the same order which also has an ability to inflate itself, called a porcupinefish. Pufferfish have a prickly texture when inflated, though they do not possess the large, rigid spines of the similar-looking porcupinefish. The porcupinefish number about 20 species with long, sharp spines which point outward when fully inflated. Their teeth are also slightly different, forming more of a sharp beak than the pufferfish. Pufferfish are prepared as meals for some.
Many parts are especially concentrated in toxicity, such as the liver or ovaries.
However, if prepared properly by specially trained chefs, certain parts of the fish may be consumed to produce a temporary narcotic effect. Preparing a meal of fugu is not an option for the home chef. The preparation and consumption of pufferfish for these purposes is very popular in Japan, with many restaurants devoted entirely to the creation of various expensive, exotic dishes composed of fugu. The pufferfish Fugu rubripes is currently playing a significant role in the current quest to map the human genome. Because its genome is one-eighth the size of its human counterpart, yet bears remarkable resemblance in its structure, comparisons will allow geneticists to pinpoint the function of certain human genes.