| Scrawled cowfish | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Tetraodontiformes |
| Suborder: | Ostracioidea |
| Family: | Ostraciidae |
| Genus: | Acanthostracion |
| Species: | A. quadricornis |
| Binomial name | |
| Acanthostracion quadricornis | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
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The scrawled cowfish (Acanthostracion quadricornis) is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. This species is found in the Western Atlantic Ocean.
The scrawled cowfish was first formally described as Ostracion quadricornis by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of Systema Naturae, published in 1758. Linnaeus erroneously gave the type locality of this species as "India". [3] In 1865 Pieter Bleeker proposed a new subgenus of Ostracion which he called Acanthostracion . Bleeker did not designate a type species when he first used the name in his paper, [i] but he designated Ostracion quadricornis as the type species later that year when he published his Atlas ichthyologique des Indes Orientalis Neerlandais. [4] The 5th edition of Fishes of the World classifies the genus Acanthostracion within the family Ostraciidae, in the suborder Ostracioidea, within the order Tetraodontiformes. [5]
The scrawled cowfish is classified within the genus Acanthostracion, which combines acanthus, referring to a "spine" or "thorn", with ostracion. Bleeker originally proposed this taxon as a subgenus of Ostracion . The specific name, quadricornis, means "four horned", a reference to the superorbital spines and those at each lower rear corner of the fish's carapace. [6] The name "cowfish" refers to the spines above its eyes, which resemble the horns of a cow.
The scrawled cowfish has a thick, oblong body, which is largely enclosed in a thickened carapace with enlarged, plate-like hexagonal scales that are jointed with each other, the mouth, eyes, gills, fins, and the caudal peduncle. The bases of the dorsal and anal fins are completely encircled by the carapace. A pair of large spines projects over and beyond the eyes from each orbit. Another pair of spines occurs at each lower, rear corner of the carapace, and the isolated plate-like scales on the upper and lower caudal peduncle are also expanded into short spines. The small mouth has fleshy lips, and each jaw is equipped with fifteen moderately-sized conical teeth. [7] The dorsal and anal fins both have ten soft rays. [2] The overall color of the fish varies from gray-brown to yellowish green, with a longitudinal blue strip running from the snout to the origin of the anal fin. There are many irregular blackish-blue to bright blue stripes and spots on the body. The cheeks are marked with three or four parallel blue stripes, although the blue markings are absent in some individuals. The juveniles are an overall pale gray-brown, marked with blue spots having dark edges. [7] The maximum published total length of the scrawled cowfish is 55 cm (22 in). [2]
The scrawled cowfish is found in the Western Atlantic Ocean, where it occurs from Massachusetts and Bermuda, south through the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, and along the coast of South America as far south as southern Brazil, including Trindade Island. This species occurs in shallow water, down to around 80 m (260 ft), most frequently being found in seagrass beds. Along the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, the scrawled cowfish inhabits the marine zones of lagoon ecosystems. [1]
The scrawled cowfish feeds on sessile invertebrates including tunicates, gorgonians, and sea anemones as well as slow-moving crustaceans, sponges, hermit crabs and some marine vegetation. This species has been recorded spawning in January and February, and between June and the end of September in Venezuelan waters. The eggs and larvae are pelagic, with settlement taking place following metamorphosis of the larvae into juveniles. [8]
Scrawled cowfish are regarded as quite tasty if cooked properly. It is locally abundant in the Caribbean region, and often sold fresh. In many places around the world they are used as an aquarium fish because of their beautiful coloration. [8] As with other species of boxfish, the scrawled cowfish's bony carapace gives it a distinctly angular appearance; its oblate form has been compared to a frisbee. [9]
The honeycomb cowfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. This fish is found in the Western Atlantic Ocean.
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.
The longhorn cowfish, also called the horned boxfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. This species is recognizable by its long horns that protrude from the front of its head, rather like those of a cow or bull. They are a resident of the Indo-Pacific region and can grow up to 50 cm (20 in) long.
Ostracion is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. These fishes are found in the Indo-Pacific region as far east as the eastern Pacific coasts of the Americas.
Acanthostracion is a genus of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. These fishes are found in the Atlantic Ocean.
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.
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.
Ostracion rhinorhynchos, the horn-nosed boxfish or torpedo boxfish, is a species of ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. This fish occurs in the Indo-West Pacific region.
Aracana ornata, the ornate cowfish or ornate boxfish, 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.
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.
The thornback cowfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. This species is found throughout the tropical Indo-Pacific from East Africa to the Bass Islands. It can grow to a maximum length of 23 cm (9 in). It is an uncommon fish that feeds on small invertebrates that it picks up off the sea bed.
The Shortnose boxfish is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. This species is found in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
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.
Anoplocapros lenticularis, the white-barred boxfish, flame boxfish, high-backed boxfish, humpback boxfish, humpty dumpty or smooth boxfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Aracanidae, the deepwater boxfishes or temperate boxfishes. This fish is endemic to the seas of southern and western Australia.
The island cowfish, also known as the hogfish, bottlefish boxfish or island boxfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the cowfishes. This fish is found around the islands of the mid-Atlantic Ocean and has been recorded from Western Africa.
Lactoria diaphana, the roundbelly cowfish, diaphonous cowfish, many-spined cowfish, spiny cowfish or transparent cowfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. This fish is found in the southeastern Atlantic Ocean and the Indo-Pacific.
Ostracioidea or Ostracioidei, the boxfishes, is a suborder of ray-finned fishes belonging to the order Tetraodontiformes, which also includes the pufferfishes, filefishes and triggerfishes. The fishes in this taxon are found in the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Kentrocapros aculeatus, the Itomaki basketfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Aracanidae, the temperate boxfishes or deepwater boxfishes. This species is found in the north western and central Pacific Ocean.
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.
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.
