Spotted Boxfish (Ostracion meleagris) - Marine Life - Liveaboard Diving
Spotted Boxfish (Ostracion meleagris) - Marine Life - Liveaboard Diving

Spotted Boxfish

The Spotted Boxfish is known by several other names, including White-Spotted Boxfish, Blue Boxfish, Black Boxfish and 'Cowfish' with similar prefixes.To add to the confusion, males and females differ greatly in colouratiopn, with the males being more colourful. Its scientific name is Ostracion meleagris. It's a small fish that isn't fast and doesn't use camouflage. Instead, its bright colours warn potential predators that it's poisonous to eat. It's a cousin of pufferfish, and can inflate its body when threatened, adding to its defence.

Female Spotted Boxfish (Ostracion meleagris) at The Similan Islands Thailand
A female Spotted Boxfish / Cowfish (Ostracion meleagris)
Credit: Alexander Kiermayer
Male spotted boxfish (Ostracion meleagris)
A male White spotted boxfish (Ostracion meleagris)
Credit: Emmy Ahlen
Spotted Boxfish Ostracion meleagris
Scientific Rank
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:
Chordata (Chordates)
Class:
Actinopterygii
Order: Tetraodontiformes (Pufferfish, Triggerfish, & Filefish)
Family: Ostraciidae (Ostraciidae)
Genus: Ostracion (Ostracion)
Species: Ostracion meleagris
Size
Average Size: 20 centimetres

No Troubles Just Bubbles' divers who recently saw Spotted Boxfish

Winny
Spotted in: Thailand Thailand
Diving from boat: MV Koon 9
Trip destinations: Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock
When: Feb 2024
Robert
Spotted in: Thailand Thailand
Diving from boat: MV Explorer
Trip destinations: Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Tachai, Surin Islands, Richelieu Rock
When: Feb 2024
Robert
Spotted in: Thailand Thailand
Diving from boat: Blue Marlin
Trip destinations: Koh Tachai
When: Dec 2023
Jeff Miller
Spotted in: Thailand Thailand
Diving from boat: The Phinisi
Trip destinations: Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock, Boonsung Wreck
When: Nov 2023
Scott
Spotted in: Thailand Thailand
Diving from boat: Deep Andaman Queen
Trip destinations: Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock
When: Feb 2023
Dani N
Spotted in: Thailand Thailand
Diving from boat: Merdeka 3
Trip destinations: Racha Yai, Racha Noi, Koh Phi Phi
When: Sep 2022
Joel Rajesh
Spotted in: Thailand Thailand
Diving from boat: Andaman
Trip destinations: Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock
When: Apr 2022

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