Spotted Boxfish
Ostracion meleagris
- Class
- Ray-finned fish
- Rarity
- Common
- Observations
- 3,322
- Most observed in
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Conservation
- Least Concern
Description
The spotted boxfish (Ostracion meleagris), also known as the black boxfish, ornate boxfish or white-spotted 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. It occurs on reefs at depths of from 1 to 30 metres (3.3 to 98.4 feet). This species grows to a length of 25 centimetres (9.8 inches). Males and females differ in colour: males are blackish on the back with white spots, and have bluish sides with bright yellowish bands and spots. Females and juveniles are dark brown to blackish with white spots. As with other species of boxfish, the spotted boxfish's bony carapace gives it a distinctly angular appearance; it has been described as resembling an ottoman.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “Spotted boxfish”.