Ostracion meleagris meleagris

(Shaw, 1796)

Vernacular names
English : Whitespotted boxfish
French : Poisson coffre pintade

Classification
Class : Teleostei
Order : Tetraodontiformes
Family : Ostraciidae
Notes : 2 other subspecies known.

Identification
Rectangular box-shaped body with elongated snout. Male with black-spotted blue flanks, dark back with yellow spots. Female entirely dark brown-black covered with white dots.

Range and habitat
Subspecies found from East Africa to Pacific islands (except Hawaii), south Japan and Tuamoto islands. Found in clear lagoons and seaward reefs, in rocky boulders areas.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : NOT LISTED
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species has a huge range and seems to remain common at least locally. It is sometimes caught for trade. Overall more monitoring of its habitat is needed.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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