Yellow Boxfish
Ostracion cubicus
9.93656, 123.372
Field Notes
Description:
This cute Yellow Boxfish (Ostracion cubicus) is just around 3 cm although the adults can reach a maximum length of 45 cm.
As the name suggests, it is box-shaped. When juvenile, it is bright yellow in color with black circle spots.. As it ages, the brightness fades and very old specimens will have blue-grey coloration with faded yellow. It feeds mainly on algae, but will also feed on sponges, crustaceans and mollusks.
When stressed or injured it releases poisonous proteins from its skin that may prove lethal to any fish in the surrounding waters. The bright yellow color and black spots are a form of warning coloration (Aposematism) to any potential predators.
They are very shy and takes a lot of patience to take pictures of as they will usually hide among crevices when they know they have been spotted.
Habitat:
It can be found in reefs throughout the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean as well as the south eastern Atlantic Ocean, usually among crevices.
They are solitary animals. Breeding occurs during the spring, in small groups that consist of 1 male and 2 - 4 females
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