Yellow Boxfish, Ostracion cubicus Linnaeus 1758
Other Names: Blue-spotted Box-fish, Cubed Boxfish, Cubical Boxfish, Polka Dot Boxfish, Yellow Box-fish, Yellow Trunkfish
A Yellow Boxfish, Ostracion cubicus, at Yellow Rock, Lord Howe Island, New South Wales. Source: Andrew J. Green / Reef Life Survey. License: CC by Attribution
Summary:
Like most boxfishes, this species changes colour and shape with growth. Large adults are pale yellowish-grey to bluish or purplish-brown with a yellow tail base, yellow markings between the body plates, remnants of dark spots on the body, and small black spots on the fins - and a bony bump above the mouth.
Immature fish are reddish to yellowish-brown with clusters of dark spots surrounded by blue, or black spots with pale margins, and black spots on the fins.
Juveniles are bright yellow with black spots on the head and body.
Video of a juvenile Yellow Boxfish
Video of a juvenile Yellow Boxfish at Talima Marine Sanctuary, Cebu, Philippines.
Video of a juvenile Yellow Boxfish in the Maldives
Immature fish are reddish to yellowish-brown with clusters of dark spots surrounded by blue, or black spots with pale margins, and black spots on the fins.
Juveniles are bright yellow with black spots on the head and body.
Video of a juvenile Yellow Boxfish
Video of a juvenile Yellow Boxfish at Talima Marine Sanctuary, Cebu, Philippines.
Video of a juvenile Yellow Boxfish in the Maldives
Cite this page as:
Bray, D.J. 2020, Ostracion cubicus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 24 Apr 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/Home/species/2474
Yellow Boxfish, Ostracion cubicus Linnaeus 1758
More Info
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Distribution |
Fremantle, Western Australia, around the tropical north, to at least Wollongong, New South Wales, including offshore reefs of north Western Australia and reefs in the Coral Sea; also Christmas Island and Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the eastern Indian Ocean, Ashmore Reef in the Timor Sea, and the Lord Howe Province and Norfolk Island in the Tasman Sea. Elsewhere, the species is widespread in the tropical Indo-west-central Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa, to southern Japa, French Polynesia, Hawaii and south to northern New Zealand. Inhabits relatively sheltered coastal and offshore reefs. |
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Features |
Dorsal fin 9; Anal fin 9; Pectoral fin 10-11; Caudal fin 10. Body rectangular in cross-section (rounded in juveniles), sides slightly concave, ventral surface convex.Body encased in haxagonal scale plates; ridges rounded, spines absent; caudal peduncle naked, flexible.Caudal fin broadly rounded. Caudal fin broadly rounded. |
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Feeding |
Feeds on algae, a range of benthic invertebrates including sponges, crustaceans, molluscs, polychaete worms, and small fishes. |
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Remarks |
Although Linnaeus also described the synonym Ostracion tuberculatus in 1758, Günther (1870) considered O. cubicus to be the senior synonym. |
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Etymology |
The specific name is from the Latin cubicus (= in the form of a cube) in reference to the body shape of this species. |
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Species Citation |
Ostracion cubicus Linnaeus, 1758, Systema Naturae: 332. Type locality: India. |
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Author |
Bray, D.J. 2020 |
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Resources |
Yellow Boxfish, Ostracion cubicus Linnaeus 1758
References
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