Where do spotted trunkfish live?
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The spotted trunkfish is a species of fish found around coral reefs in the Atlantic Ocean. Their range covers from the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico to northeastern coastal regions of Brazil. Spotted trunkfish live at depths of 10-164 ft (3-50 m) and feed on algae, seagrass, and invertebrates.
Where can you find Trunkfish?
Smooth trunkfish call home coral reefs and sandy seabeds at a depth of around 50 meters. They prefer warmer waters between 72 and 79 degrees F. Their range in the western Atlantic Ocean is as far north as Canada and as far south as Brazil, including waters in the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and Bermuda.
How do Trunkfish move?
Their way of locomotion is very characteristic: when at ease they swim by using only the dorsal, pectoral and anal fins. The tail fin is only used when high speed is required.
How do Trunkfish reproduce?
The family Ostraciidae reproduce by pairs laying eggs at dusk, and its life cycle involves an egg, larva, juvenile (Fig. 2) and adult stage (NOA, 2001).
Is Trunkfish a shellfish?
The species gets its name from the black spots it has covered over its whitish or yellow-golden body. In many Caribbean countries, it is colloquially known as box-fish or cow-fish, and shell-fish in the Eastern Caribbean….
| Spotted trunkfish | |
|---|---|
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Tetraodontiformes |
What do spotted trunkfish eat?
It is a benthic species, feeding on or near the seabed. Its diet includes crabs, shrimps, molluscs, sea urchins, starfish, brittle stars, sea cucumbers, tunicates and seagrasses. The spotted trunkfish, like all trunkfish of the genus Lactophrys, secretes a colourless toxin from glands on its skin when touched.
Are Box fish fast?
But it turns out that boxfishes are fast, stable, and amazingly maneuverable swimmers—so much so as to inspire human designers. Boxfishes get their name from the rectangular (or sometimes five-sided) shell of bony armor on the front two-thirds of their bodies.
Where can I find Spotted trunkfish?
Spotted trunkfish. The spotted trunkfish (Lactophrys bicaudalis) is a member of the family Ostraciidae. It can be found in reefs throughout the Caribbean, as well as the south eastern Atlantic Ocean. The species gets its name from the black spots it has covered over its yellow-golden body.
What is the habitat of the spotted boxfish?
HABITAT. White spotted boxfish are found across the Indo pacific area mainly in lagoons and on seaward and protected reefs from a depth of 1 to 30 meters. They live in small haremic groups with one male to several females and forage on their own. The males are territorial and will attempt to chase off other males.
How does the spotted trunkfish move?
Because of the heavy armoured scales, the spotted trunkfish is normally limited to slow movements, performed by rippling its dorsal and anal fins and gently beating its pectoral fins. If faster motion is required, it can additionally use the tail fin for propulsion.
Are trunkfish poisonous?
The spotted trunkfish, like all trunkfish of the genus Lactophrys, secretes a colourless toxin from glands on its skin when touched. The toxin is only dangerous when ingested, so there is no immediate harm to divers. Predators however, as large as nurse sharks, can die as a result of eating a trunkfish.