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Lactophrys trigonus

Lactophrys trigones
Lactophrys trigonus 2.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Tetraodontiformes
Family: Ostraciidae
Genus: Tetrosomus
Species: L. trigonus
Binomial name
Lactophrys trigonus
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
  • Ostracion expansum Cope, 1871
  • Ostracion trigonus Linnaeus, 1758
  • Ostracion undulatus Poey, 1868

Lactophrys trigones, commonly called the buffalo trunkfish or trunkfish, is a boxfish native to the Western Atlantic.

The trunkfish has small diffuse white spots. Two areas, located on the pectoral region and halfway between gills and posterior end of carapace, contain dark-edged hexagonal plates that together form chain-like markings. It can reach a length of 30-50 cm and weigh up to 3.3 kg.

The species is native to the Western Atlantic from Canada to Brazil, including the Gulf of Mexico, Bermuda and the Caribbean. Records from the Mediterranean still lack verification. It inhabits areas with coral rubble, seagrass beds and offshore reefs, preferring depths above 50 metres (160 ft).

Boxfish are benthic feeders and will forage on seagrasses, crustaceans, mollusks, worms, tunicates and a variety of small benthic invertebrates. They are a popular food throughout the Caribbean, and a minor species in the aquarium trade.


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