Animalia Life
Lactoria cornuta
FAMILY
Ostraciidae
TAXONOMY
Lactoria cornuta Linnaeus, 1758, India.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
French: Coffre cornu; German: Langhorn-Kofferfisch;
Afrikaans: Langhoring-koeivis; Japanese: Kфngo-fugu.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Boxlike body, with two long “horns” projecting forward from
the top of the head just in front of the eyes. The mouth is subterminal
with prominent lips. The dorsal fin is relatively small
and arises just forward of the caudal peduncle. The caudal fin
is rounded. There are eight or nine soft rays in the dorsal fin,
eight to nine soft rays in the anal fin, and nine to 10 rays in
the caudal fin. Body color ranges from green and olive to light
orange with blue spots and is cryptic. Grows to at least 18.1 in
(46 cm) in total length.
DISTRIBUTION
Indo-Pacific in tropical, subtropical, and warm temperate waters
from East Africa and the Red Sea east to the Tuamotu
Archipelago and the Marquesas in eastern Polynesia, north to
southern Japan and southern Korea, and south to Australia and
Lord Howe Island.
HABITAT
Coral and rocky reefs, especially in algae beds or sea grasses.
Juveniles enter brackish waters of estuaries. Depth range is
3.3–328 ft (1–100 m).
BEHAVIOR
Adults usually are solitary and territorial, but the juveniles
form small groups.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Forages for benthic vertebrates by blowing water into the sand
to dislodge them.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
The mating system consists of a single male with a small group
of females within its territory. Practices elaborate courtship just
before or after sunset. Courtship is paired and results in the release
of pelagic eggs well up into the water column above the
bottom. The larvae are pelagic.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not listed by the IUCN.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
An interesting aquarium species but one that should be kept
alone or with species with which it is not likely to interact. Also
taken as a minor subsistence species that may cause ciguatera
poisoning. Most are probably dried and sold as ornaments.
Photo Gallery of - Longhorn cowfish
