Relevant synonyms None Misidentification None Meristic formula D, 8-9; A, 9; P, 10-11  photo : M. Shpigel

SHORT DESCRIPTION Body made of bony polygonal plates quadrangular in cross-section, broader at lower surface. Young specimens are rounder; their body depth is close to 1.5 times in Standard length (SL). They become more elongated with growth, up to 3 times in Standard length. Small mouth, at the lower part of head, with a single row of small teeth in both jaws. Gill opening slit-like in front of pectoral fin. Dorsal and anal fins round the former anterior to the later. Caudal fin round. Pectoral fin round, its base close to the ventral surface. No pelvic fins. color : body and fins yellow. Each polygonal plate bears a white spot surrounded by black edge. Juveniles have black spots on their body. size : common 5-30 cm (max. 45 cm). DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS The color pattern of this species differ significantly from all other Mediterranean species. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Feeds on sedentary invertebrates, such as tunicates, sponges and algae. Eggs and larvae planktonic. During the spawning season, several females enter the male's territory and release their eggs. Under stress they secrete a poison that protects them from potential predators. habitat : benthic in the vicinity of rocks and coral to depth of 50 m.

1st MEDITERRANEAN RECORD Lebanon, 2011. DISTRIBUTION Worldwide : Indo-Pacific. Mediterranean : a single photographed record from Lebanon and several unsubstantiated observations from Israel. ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Very rare. speculated reasons for success : MODE OF INTRODUCTION Probably via the Suez Canal. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS None.

KEY REFERENCES Bariche M., 2011. First record of the cube boxfish Ostracion cubicus (Ostraciidae) and additional records of Champsodon vorax (Champsodontidae) from the Mediterranean. aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology, 17: 181-184. Kalmanzon E. and Zlotkin E., 2000. An ichthyotoxic protein in the defensive skin secretion of the Red Sea trunkfish Ostracion cubicus. Marine Biology, 136(3): 471-476. Randall J.E., 1983. Red Sea Reef Fishes. IMMEL Publishing, London, 192 pp. FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

Last update of the species sheet: November 2013 ©ciesm 2002