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Bony fish

Thornback Cowfish

Lactoria fornasini

Also known as: Backspine Cowfish, Blue-spotted Cowfish, Cofferfish, Cowfish, Short-spined Cowfish, Thornback, Thornback Boxfish, Thornback Cow, Thornyback Cowfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2024
VenomousKeep your distance
LIFE STAGE
Add a photo
Adult
1
@fishx6 · Lembeth Resort, Indonesia · June 20061 / 7

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

01

Overview

Found singly, over rubble and sandy bottoms, of clear, outer lagoons and seaward reefs.

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

02

How to identify

COLOURS
Pattern
honeycombspots
Head & Mouth
horns
Behaviour
solitary

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 · Indo-West Pacific, Southeast Atlantic
  • Country only · 7
LIVES IN

Found singly, over rubble and sandy bottoms, of clear, outer lagoons and seaward reefs.

RANGE
04

Adult photos 7

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. genusLactoria
    7. speciesLactoria fornasini (Bianconi, 1846)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

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    0 photos

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