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Smooth boxfish (Anoplocapros inermis) — Aracanidae

Smooth boxfish

Anoplocapros inermis
Family: Aracanidae
LC · Least Concern

The Smooth boxfish (Anoplocapros inermis) is a saltwater fish of the family Aracanidae that grows up to 37 cm.

Length
37 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
10.0–300.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The smooth boxfish is a boxfish from the eastern Indian Ocean, endemic along southern Australia. The species grows to about 37 cm and has an angular body encased in a hard, bony carapace; males are often blue-grey with yellow, females and juveniles yellowish-brown with dark spots. It lives on rocky and sandy bottoms of the coastal shelf into deeper water and eats small bottom invertebrates. Because of its rigid carapace it swims slowly with sculling fins. The fish is harmless to humans and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Smooth boxfish?

The Smooth boxfish has a flattened, disc-shaped body, is mainly yellow-gold and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Smooth boxfish live?

The Smooth boxfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Smooth boxfish get?

The Smooth boxfish grows to a maximum of about 37 cm.

Is the Smooth boxfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Smooth boxfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Smooth boxfish edible?

The Smooth boxfish is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Gladde koffervis verified
English name
Smooth boxfish verified
Scientific name
Anoplocapros inermis
Family
Aracanidae
Other names
Chubby basketfish; Eastern smooth boxfish; Freckled boxfish; Golden boxfish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
37.0 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Yellow / gold inferred
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
10.0 verified
Max depth (m)
300.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

More from the family Aracanidae

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