Lactophrys trigonus

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Lactophrys trigonus
Lactophrys trigonus 2.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Tetraodontiformes
Suborder: Ostracioidea
Family: Ostraciidae
Genus: Lactophrys
Species:
L. trigonus
Binomial name
Lactophrys trigonus
Synonyms [2]
  • Ostracion trigonus Linnaeus, 1758
  • Ostracion undulatus Poey, 1868
  • Ostracium expansum Cope, 1871
  • Ostracion expansum Cope, 1871

Lactophrys trigonus, the buffalo trunkfish or trunkfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. The buffalo trunkfish is found in the Western Atlantic Ocean.

Contents

Taxonomy

Lactophrys trigonus was first formally described as Ostracion trigonus in 1758 by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of Systema Naturae with its type locality given as the Western Atlantic. [3] In 1839 William Swainson proposed a new subgenus of Ostracion he called Lactophrys and in 1865 Pieter Bleeker designated this species, O. trigonus as the type species of Lactophrys. [4] The 5th edition of Fishes of the World classifies the genus Lactophrys within the family Ostraciidae in the suborder Ostracioidea within the order Tetraodontiformes. [5]

Etymology

Lactophrys trigonus is a member of the genus Lactophrys, a name which is a compound of lactaria, meaning a "milkcow", and ophrys, meaning "eyebrow", a reference to the spines above the eyes resembling the horns of a cow. Some fishes in this family are known as cowfishes. The specific name, trigonus, means "three angles", a reference to this fish's triangular body when viewed head on. [6]

Description

The trunkfish has small diffuse white spots. Two areas, located on the pectoral region and halfway between gills and posterior end of carapace, contain dark-edged hexagonal plates that together form chain-like markings. [7] It can reach a length of 30–50 cm and weigh up to 3.3 kg. [2]

Distribution and habitat

The species is native to the Western Atlantic from Canada to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean. Records from the Mediterranean still lack verification. It inhabits areas with coral rubble, seagrass beds and offshore reefs, preferring depths above 50 m (160 ft). [1]

Ecology

Boxfish are benthic feeders and will forage on seagrasses, crustaceans, mollusks, worms, tunicates and a variety of small benthic invertebrates. They are a popular food throughout the Caribbean, and a minor species in the aquarium trade. [1]

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Ostraciidae or Ostraciontidae is a family of squared, bony fish belonging to the order Tetraodontiformes, closely related to the pufferfishes and filefishes. Fish in the family are known variously as boxfishes, cofferfishes, cowfishes and trunkfishes. It contains about 23 extant species in 6 extant genera.

<i>Ostracion</i> Genus of fishes

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scrawled cowfish</span> Species of fish

The scrawled cowfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. This species is found in the Western Atlantic Ocean.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spotted trunkfish</span> Species of fish

The spotted trunkfish is a member of the family Ostraciidae. It lives in reefs throughout the Caribbean, as well as the southwestern Atlantic Ocean. It gets its name from the black spots on its whitish or yellow-golden body. In Caribbean countries, it is colloquially known as the boxfish, cow-fish or shellfish.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Smooth trunkfish</span> Species of fish

Lactophrys triqueter the smooth trunkfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. The smooth trunkfish is found in the Western Atlantic Ocean.

<i>Lactophrys</i> Genus of fishes

Lactophrys is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. The boxfishes in this genus are found in the western Atlantic Ocean and are known as trunkfishes.

<i>Lactoria</i> Genus of fishes

Lactoria is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. The fishes in this genus are found in the Indo-Pacific, with one species extending into the southeastern Atlantic.

Paracanthostracion is a monospecific genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. The only species in the genus is Paracanthostracion lindsayi, Lindsay's boxfish, which is found in the Southwestern Pacific Ocean.

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<i>Ostracion rhinorhynchos</i> Species of fish

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<i>Aracana aurita</i> Species of fish

Aracana aurita, the Shaw's cowfish, painted boxfish, southern cowfish or striped cowfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Aracanidae, the deepwater boxfishes or temperate boxfishes. This species is endemic to the seas off southern Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shortnose boxfish</span> Species of fish

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<i>Tetrosomus concatenatus</i> Species of fish

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Island cowfish</span> Species of fish

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ostracioidea</span>

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Acanthostracion guineense, the West African cowfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. This species is found off the coast of Western Africa in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. This species is the smallest member of the genus Acanthostracion.

<i>Ostracion cyanurus</i> Species of fish

Ostracion cyanurus, the bluetail trunkfish, Arabian trunkfish or Red Sea boxfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. This species is found in the Western Indian Ocean.

<i>Ostracion immaculatum</i> Species of fish

Ostracion immaculatum, the bluespotted boxfish or immaculate boxfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. This species is found in the Western Pacific Ocean off Eastern Asia.

<i>Ostracion trachys</i> Species of fish

Ostracion trachys, the rough boxfish or roughskin trunkfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. It is found in the Western Indian Ocean around the Mascarenes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whitley's boxfish</span> Species of fish

Whitley's boxfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. This fish is found in the Eastern Central Pacific Ocean.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Leis, J.L.; Matsuura, K.; Shao, K.-T.; et al. (2015). "Lactophrys trigonus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2015: e.T193816A2281840. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T193816A2281840.en . Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  2. 1 2 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Lactophrys trigonus". FishBase . June 2024 version.
  3. Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Lactophrys". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  4. Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Genera in the family Ostraciidae". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  5. Nelson, J.S.; Grande, T.C.; Wilson, M.V.H. (2016). Fishes of the World (5th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons. pp. 518–526. doi:10.1002/9781119174844. ISBN   978-1-118-34233-6. LCCN   2015037522. OCLC   951899884. OL   25909650M.
  6. Christopher Scharpf (21 August 2024). "Order TETRAODONTIFORMES: Families MOLIDAE, BALISTIDAE, MONACANTHIDAE, ARACANIDAE and OSTRACIIDAE". Christopher Scharpf. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  7. Robins, C.R.; G.C. Ray (1986). A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America . Houghton Mifflin Company. p.  354.