Yellow Boxfish
Ostracion cubicum
Its boxy shape is so stable in turbulent water that it inspired Mercedes-Benz's 'Bionic' concept car design.
- Scientific name
- Ostracion cubicum
- Taxonomy
- Animalia › Chordata › Actinopterygii › Tetraodontiformes › Ostraciidae › Ostracion
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- coral reef
- Habitat
- Coral and rocky reefs, sheltered lagoons, and seaward reefs up to 280 meters deep.
- Diet
- Omnivorous; feeds on algae, sponges, polychaete worms, mollusks, and small crustaceans.
- Range
- Indo-Pacific, Red Sea, East Africa, Hawaiian Islands, Ryukyu Islands
- Size
- Up to 45 cm in length
- Lifespan
- 4 to 8 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat degradation of coral reefs, aquarium trade collection, and climate change affecting reef health.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless but defensive. Do not touch or stress the fish; it releases pahutoxin when threatened which can irritate human skin and is lethal to nearby aquatic life. Maintain a 2-meter distance. If contact occurs, wash skin thoroughly with soap and fresh water.
The yellow boxfish ( Ostracion cubicus ) is a species of boxfish. It can be found in reefs throughout the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean as well as the south eastern Atlantic Ocean. It reaches a maximum length of 45 centimetres (18 in).
Photo: Georgina Jones, CC-BY-SA, via iNaturalist
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