Bony fish
White-spotted Boxfish
Ostracion meleagris
Also known as: Black Boxfish, Blue Boxfish, Blue-spotted Boxfish, Cowfish, Multi-spotted Boxfish, Multi-spotted Trunkfish, Spotted Boxfish, Spotted Trunkfish, Trunkfish, Whitespot Boxfish
ALSO KNOWN AS
- Black Boxfish
- Blue Boxfish
- Blue-spotted Boxfish
- Cowfish
- Multi-spotted Boxfish
- Multi-spotted Trunkfish
- Spotted Boxfish
- Spotted Trunkfish
- Trunkfish
- Whitespot Boxfish
LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2024
VenomousKeep your distance
01
Overview
Found singly in surge zones, around reef crests and slopes, of clear lagoons and seaward reefs. Males and juveniles are brightly coloured, females black with white spots.
Juveniles among rocky boulders, or between the spines of longspine sea urchins.
The bodies of Boxfish are covered in a toxic mucus which can be released when stressed.
02
How to identify
- Behaviour
- solitary
Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.
03
Habitat & where to find it
- Range · Indo-Pacific, Eastern Pacific
- Exact location · 1
- Dive site · 2
- Country only · 21
LIVES IN
Found singly in surge zones, around reef crests and slopes, of clear lagoons and seaward reefs.
04
Adult photos 24
05
Discussion 2
ALL STAGES
FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS
Deep dive
06
More in the family
Boxfishes (Ostraciidae)
Honeycomb Cowfish
Acanthostracion polygonium
JuvenileAdult
Smooth Trunkfish
Lactophrys triqueter
JuvenileAdult
Yellow Boxfish
Ostracion cubicum
JuvenileAdult
Bluetail Trunkfish
Ostracion cyanurus
7 photos
Buffalo Trunkfish
Lactophrys trigonus
16 photos
Horn-nosed Boxfish
Ostracion rhinorhynchos
9 photos
Humpback Turretfish
Tetrosomus gibbosus
4 photos
Longhorn Cowfish
Lactoria cornuta
JuvenileAdult
Roundbelly Cowfish
Lactoria diaphana
0 photos
Scrawled Cowfish
Acanthostracion quadricornis
6 photos
Shortnose Boxfish
Ostracion nasus
1 photo
Smallspine Turretfish
Tetrosomus reipublicae
0 photos