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Bluespotted boxfish (Ostracion immaculatus) — Ostraciidae

Bluespotted boxfish

Ostracion immaculatus
Family: Ostraciidae

The Bluespotted boxfish (Ostracion immaculatus) is a fish of the family Ostraciidae that grows up to 25 cm.

Length
25 cm
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Bluespotted boxfish is a boxfish (Ostraciidae) from reef water of the northwest Pacific, off East Asia. The species grows to about 25 cm and has a hard, box-shaped armour of fused bony plates from which only the fins, mouth and tail protrude, with a blue with blue spots in males, yellow-brown in females pattern. Swimming slowly with fluttering fins it blasts invertebrates out of the sand with a jet of water. Under strong stress it can release a toxin into the water that is harmful to other fish; on contact it is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bluespotted boxfish?

The Bluespotted boxfish is mainly blue.

Where does the Bluespotted boxfish live?

The Bluespotted boxfish is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Bluespotted boxfish get?

The Bluespotted boxfish grows to a maximum of about 25 cm.

Is the Bluespotted boxfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Bluespotted boxfish is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Blauwstip-koffervis sourced
English name
Bluespotted boxfish sourced
Scientific name
Ostracion immaculatus
Family
Ostraciidae

Appearance

Max length (cm)
25 sourced
Dominant colour
Blue sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

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

Same genus Ostracion

More from the family Ostraciidae

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