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Bony fish

Honeycomb Cowfish

Acanthostracion polygonium

Also known as: Cowfish, Honeycomb Trunkfish, Trunkfish

LIFE STAGE
Add a photo
Adult
1
@fishx6 · Bonaire - Andrea 1, Caribbean Netherlands · November 20101 / 15

Showing details for the adult stage. Switch stages to see how it differs.

01

Overview

Found over clear water coral reefs, remaining motionless, blending in with the background, if detected will quickly retreat.

The bodies of Boxfish are covered in a toxic mucus which can be released when stressed.

02

How to identify

COLOURS
Pattern
honeycomb
Behaviour
camouflaged

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

Where the adult stage lives, and where its photos were taken.

  • Range · Western Atlantic, Caribbean
  • Country only · 15
LIVES IN

Found over clear water coral reefs, remaining motionless, blending in with the background, if detected will quickly retreat.

RANGE
04

Adult photos 15

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderTetraodontiformes
    5. familyOstraciidae
    6. genusAcanthostracion
    7. speciesAcanthostracion polygonium Poey, 1876

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Boxfishes (Ostraciidae)

    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

    Smooth Trunkfish

    Lactophrys triqueter

    JuvenileAdult

    Solor Boxfish

    Ostracion solorense

    6 photos

    Spotted Trunkfish

    Lactophrys bicaudalis

    JuvenileAdult