Sealife guideThe thornback cowfishLactoria fornasini

Last updated on 09/18/2024 at 10:37 PM
Taxonomy
Description
The thornback cowfish has a box-shaped body that resembles a chest. It is distinguished by its long spines located on its head above its eyes, as well as on the dorsal and posterior parts of its body.
A thornback cowfish hiding in the sea grass with its patterned skin and boxy body
A thornback cowfish hiding in the sea grass with its patterned skin and boxy body ©  | Dreamstime.com
The thornback cowfish displays a yellowish to greenish coloration with irregular patterns of bluish or brown spots and lines across its body.
Geographic range
The thornback cowfish is found throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific, especially in the Bali sea, from east Africa to the Bass islands.
Habitat
The thornback cowfish lives in coral reefs and seagrass beds, where it easily hides thanks to its patterns
Did you know ?
The thornback cowfish is a poisonous species of boxfish. Indeed, when stressed or threatened, it secretes toxins as a means of defense against predators
Unlike other fish, the boxfish’s body is covered with a rigid shell made of bony plates, which protects it like armor from predators but also limits its body movements. As a result, the boxfish moves more slowly by undulating its dorsal and anal fins.
Within the same family
Honeycomb cowfish (Acanthostracion polygonium)
Honeycomb cowfish
(Acanthostracion polygonium)
Reticulate boxfish (Ostracion solorensis)
Reticulate boxfish
(Ostracion solorensis)
Scrawled cowfish (Acanthostracion quadricornis)
Scrawled cowfish
(Acanthostracion quadricornis)
Smooth trunkfish (Rhinesomus triqueter)
Smooth trunkfish
(Rhinesomus triqueter)
Spotted boxfish (Ostracion meleagris)
Spotted boxfish
(Ostracion meleagris)
Spotted trunkfish (Lactophrys bicaudalis)
Spotted trunkfish
(Lactophrys bicaudalis)
Yellow boxfish (Ostracion cubicus)
Yellow boxfish
(Ostracion cubicus)
Discover also
Flathead grey mullet (Mugil cephalus)
Flathead grey mullet
(Mugil cephalus)
Gag grouper (Mycteroperca microlepis)
Gag grouper
(Mycteroperca microlepis)
Mexican barracuda (Sphyraena ensis)
Mexican barracuda
(Sphyraena ensis)
Neon goby (Elacatinus oceanops)
Neon goby
(Elacatinus oceanops)
Red sea anthias (Pseudanthias taeniatus)
Red sea anthias
(Pseudanthias taeniatus)
Reticulated damselfish (Dascyllus reticulatus)
Reticulated damselfish
(Dascyllus reticulatus)
Three spot angelfish (Apolemichthys trimaculatus)
Three spot angelfish
(Apolemichthys trimaculatus)
Two eyed butterflyfish (Coradion melanopus)
Two eyed butterflyfish
(Coradion melanopus)
The marine species from Indo-Pacific
Bicolor angelfish (Centropyge bicolor)
Bicolor angelfish
(Centropyge bicolor)
Bigeye trevally (Caranx sexfasciatus)
Bigeye trevally
(Caranx sexfasciatus)
Blue tunicate (Rhopalaea fusca)
Blue tunicate
(Rhopalaea fusca)
Brownbanded bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium punctatum)
Brownbanded bamboo shark
(Chiloscyllium punctatum)
Copperbanded butterfly (Chelmon rostratus)
Copperbanded butterfly
(Chelmon rostratus)
Lemonpeel angelfish (Centropyge flavissima)
Lemonpeel angelfish
(Centropyge flavissima)
Persian carpet flatworm (Pseudobiceros bedfordi)
Persian carpet flatworm
(Pseudobiceros bedfordi)

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