| Ostraciidae (Boxfishes) |
| 48 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
|
reef-associated; marine; depth range 3 - 50 m |
| Western Atlantic: Florida (USA), Bahamas, and southern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil. Eastern Atlantic: Ascension Island (Ref. 3696). |
|
Whitish with numerous small black spots on carapace, caudal peduncle and caudal fin; lips whitish; bases of dorsal, anal and pectoral fins blackish; large adults with black spots missing from three small areas in a diagonal row anteriorly on body at level of eye, appearing as three white spots (Ref. 13442). |
| Found in clear water around coral reefs. Sometimes under ledges and near small holes (Ref. 9710). Feeds on a variety of small bottom invertebrates such as mollusks, crustaceans, starfishes, sea urchins, sea cucumbers, sessile tunicates, sea grasses (Ref. 3696), algae, crabs and brittle stars (Ref. 13442). Toxins released when excited kills other fishes (Ref. 5521). Probably marketed fresh locally (Ref. 3696). |
|
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 07 June 2011 Ref. (130435)
|
| reports of ciguatera poisoning |
|
Generally of no interest to fisheries. Also Ref. 3696, 26340. |
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