Eggs
Released in open water at dusk, they float in the plankton.
Four-stage life cycle
Boxfish
A fish protected by a rigid bony shell
Enclosed in genuine armour of fused bony plates, the boxfish swims slowly but is almost untouchable.
Life cycle (4 stages)
Larva
Tiny larvae drift for a few weeks before settling on the bottom.
Juvenile
The young, often cube-shaped and spotted, hides in corals and seagrass.
Adult
It roams the reef slowly, alone, over a well-defined territory.
Physical changes
- Rigid shell made of fused hexagonal bony plates.
- Only the fins, tail, eyes and mouth remain mobile.
- Bright colouring warning of its toxicity.
- Some species have horns above the eyes.
Habitat
- Coral reefs
- Seagrass beds
- Sandy bottoms
- Sheltered lagoons
Diet
- Small invertebrates
- Sponges
- Algae
- Marine worms
- Crustaceans
Survival adaptations
- Bony armour protecting against predators.
- Release of a toxin (ostracitoxin) when stressed.
- Water jet blown at the sand to uncover prey.
- Precise swimming using the pectoral fins.
Ecological importance
- Regulating sand invertebrate populations
- Contributing to sediment recycling
- Indicating the diversity of soft bottoms
Importance
- Type : Armoured bony fish (Ostraciidae family)
- Habitat shift : Pelagic eggs → Planktonic larvae → Juveniles hidden in coral → Adults on the reef
- Role : Slow predator of benthic invertebrates.
- Its toxin and shell make it a rarely predated, key species of reef balance.
Did you know?
Its cubic shape has inspired car engineers: this natural bodywork is surprisingly aerodynamic.