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Tetraodontiformes (Puffers and filefishes) >
Ostraciidae (Boxfishes)
Etymology: Acanthostracion: Greek, akantha = thorn + Greek, ostrakon = shell (Ref. 45335); quadricornis: Specific name refers to the 2 pairs of horns ('quadricornis' = 4 horns), in front of the eyes and a second pair at the lower rear corners of the cuirass.
More on author: Linnaeus.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / εύρος βάθους / distribution range
Οικολογία
Θαλασσινό(ά) Υφαλόφιλο(α); εύρος βάθους 1 - 80 m (Ref. 26938), usually 10 - 30 m (Ref. 40849). Subtropical; 43°N - 39°S, 100°W - 26°E
Atlantic Ocean: in tropical and temperate waters (Ref. 3696). Western Atlantic: Massachusetts (USA), Bermuda, and northern Gulf of Mexico to southeastern Brazil. Reported from tip of South Africa.
Length at first maturity / Μέγεθος / Βάρος / Age
Γεννητική Ωρίμανση: Lm 22.2, range 17 - ? cm
Max length : 55.0 cm TL αρσενικό/απροσδιόριστο; (Ref. 6937); common length : 20.0 cm TL αρσενικό/απροσδιόριστο; (Ref. 3696)
Ραχιαίες άκανθες (συνολικά) : 0; Μαλακές ραχιαίες ακτίνες (συνολικά) : 10; Εδρικές άκανθες: 0; Μαλακές εδρικές ακτίνες: 10. Dark markings on head and body; parallel bands on cheek. Pair of prominent spines projecting from in front of eyes suggests cow horns. Second pair of spines at lower rear corners of cuirass (Ref. 26938). Body deep, covered with hexagonal dermal plates (Ref. 37521).
Body shape (shape guide): short and / or deep.
Found in shallow water down to about 80 m, mainly in seagrass beds (Ref. 3696). Feeds on sessile invertebrates such as tunicates, gorgonians and anemones, as well as on slow-moving crustaceans, sponges (Ref. 3696), hermit crabs and marine plants (Ref. 13442). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Considered an excellent food fish; marketed fresh (Ref. 3696).
Smith, M.M., 1986. Ostraciidae. p. 890-893. In M.M. Smith and P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Smiths' sea fishes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin. (Ref. 3141)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)
Threat to humans
Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 30303)
Human uses
αλιεία: περιορισμένης εμπορικότητας; Ενυδρείο: Εμπορικό(ά)
Εργαλεία
Special reports
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Διαδικτυακές πηγές
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Αναφ.
123201): 22.3 - 28, mean 25.4 °C (based on 458 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Αναφ.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5625 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.03981 (0.02296 - 0.06904), b=2.70 (2.54 - 2.86), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref.
93245).
Τροφικό Επίπεδο (Αναφ.
69278): 2.7 ±0.2 se; based on diet studies.
Ελαστικότητα (Αναφ.
120179): Υψηλό, ελάχιστος χρόνος για διπλασιασμό πληθυσμού < 15 μήνες (Fec = 112,536).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Moderate vulnerability (42 of 100).
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Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 22.3 [9.0, 63.2] mg/100g; Iron = 0.615 [0.308, 1.471] mg/100g; Protein = 18.8 [16.5, 21.0] %; Omega3 = 0.153 [0.077, 0.296] g/100g; Selenium = 24 [10, 55] μg/100g; VitaminA = 18.4 [4.2, 81.7] μg/100g; Zinc = 0.73 [0.46, 1.17] mg/100g (wet weight);
