Animalia Life
Ostracion cubicus
FAMILY
Ostraciidae
TAXONOMY
Ostracion cubicus Linnaeus, 1758, India.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
French: Poisson cube; German: Gelbbrauner Kofferfisch;
Afrikaans: Koffertije; Japanese: Minami-hakofugu.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Boxlike body with bony plates, a steeply sloping forehead, a
subterminal mouth, a thick caudal peduncle, and a relatively
large, somewhat rounded caudal fin. The dorsal and anal fins
are positioned well back, just forward of the caudal peduncle.
Body color of adults is a dirty yellow with a blueish hue and
yellow seams between the body’s bony plates. Juveniles are an
attractive bright yellow with small black spots. There are eight
or nine soft rays in the dorsal fin, nine soft rays in the anal fin,
and 10 caudal fin rays. Total length up to 11 in (28 cm).
DISTRIBUTION
Tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-Pacific and southeastern
Atlantic, from East Africa and the Red Sea east to the
Hawaiian Islands and the Tuamotu Archipelago in Polynesia,
north to the Ryukyu Islands of southern Japan, south to
Australia and Lord Howe Island, and off southern Africa in
the Atlantic.
HABITAT
Primarily coral reefs in lagoons, on reef flats, and on protected
seaward reefs. Juveniles associate with Acropora corals. Depth
range is 3.3–148 ft (1–45 m).
BEHAVIOR
Adults are solitary and territorial. Juveniles also are solitary after
settlement. Secretes ostracitoxin as a defensive mechanism
when attacked or disturbed.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Omnivorous. Feeds upon benthic algae, various microorganisms,
and foraminiferans that it strains from sediments,
sponges, polychaete worms from sand flats, mollusks, small
crustaceans, and small fishes. Large larvae and post-larvae
often taken by pelagic predators, such as tunas.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Paired courtship just before or after sunset. Eggs and larvae are
pelagic.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not listed by the IUCN.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Collected for the aquarium trade but, due to its ability to secrete
ostracitoxin, usually is a poor choice for a community
aquarium.
Photo Gallery of - Yellow boxfish
