Acanthostracion quadricornis

(Poey, 1876)

Vernacular names
English : Scrawled cowfish
French : Poisson-coffre taureau

Classification
Class : Teleostei
Order : Tetraodontiformes
Family : Ostraciidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Maximum length is 55 cm. Oval-shaped box-like body with horns above the eyes and below the anal fins. Coloration is usually beige to light brown with dark parallel lines on cheeks and markings on flanks. Markings often appear blue.

Range and habitat
Western Atlantic ocean from the coasts of Massachusetts to Gulf of Mexico and south to Brazil. The species has been reported from South Africa. Mostly found in seagrass beds, in shallow waters, down to 80 meters.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : This species is at least locally common in its huge range. It isn’t known to face any threats at this time.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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