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Bony fish

Smallspine Turretfish

Tetrosomus reipublicae

Also known as: Cowfish, Trunkfish, Turretfish

VenomousKeep your distance
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Juvenile
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01

Overview

Found singly, over flat bottoms, of coastal waters.

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

02

How to identify

COLOURS
Pattern
blotches
Behaviour
solitary

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Indo-West Pacific
LIVES IN

Found singly, over flat bottoms, of coastal waters.

RANGE
04

Juvenile photos 0

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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. genusTetrosomus
    7. speciesTetrosomus reipublicae (Whitley, 1930)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    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

    Solor Boxfish

    Ostracion solorense

    6 photos