Scrawled cowfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scrawled cowfish |
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| Acanthostracion quadricornis Scrawled cowfish | |
| Scientific classification | |
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Acanthostracion
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| Species: |
quadricornis
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The scrawled cowfish (Acanthostracion quadricornis) is a unique type of boxfish. It lives in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. These fish usually grow to be about 8 to 15 inches long. Some can even reach up to 18 inches!
You can find them in waters from 6 to 80 feet deep. They are common in places like Florida and The Bahamas. You might also see them in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico. Their range goes north to Massachusetts and Bermuda, and south to Brazil. They prefer warm, tropical waters.
Contents
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Scrawled cowfish lay their eggs during certain times of the year. This happens in January and February, and again from July through September. They release their eggs into the open ocean, which is called the Pelagic zone.
After hatching, the young fish, called juveniles, eventually settle down from the water. They then start to live closer to the seabed.
What Does a Scrawled Cowfish Look Like?
This fish has some very special features. Its body is covered in a cool pattern of bluish markings that look like "scrawls." A blue line also runs from its snout all the way to its anal fin.
One of the most interesting things about them is the pair of sharp spines above each eye. These spines look a lot like a cow's horns! This is why they are called "cowfish." These "horns" help tell them apart from other similar fish called trunkfish.
Their body color can be blue-green or yellow. They can also change their color to become darker or lighter. They have two sharp spines right in front of their anal fin. Unlike many fish, cowfish do not have pelvic fins or spiny dorsal fins.
You will almost always see dark, blotchy spots on their body. They also have three to four horizontal lines on their cheek. They usually have fewer than fifteen teeth in each jaw. Like other boxfish, the scrawled cowfish has a hard, bony shell around its body. This makes it look very angular, almost like a frisbee!
Where Do Scrawled Cowfish Live?
Scrawled cowfish are known as shallow water fish. This means they are almost always found in and around grassy areas underwater. If something bothers them, they might stay very still. They do this to blend in with their surroundings, using camouflage to hide.
What Do Scrawled Cowfish Eat?
The scrawled cowfish enjoys eating small creatures without backbones. These include tiny crabs and tunicates. They also like to munch on some types of marine plants.
Why Are Scrawled Cowfish Important to Humans?
Scrawled cowfish can be quite tasty if they are cooked the right way. In the Caribbean region, there are many of them, and they are often sold fresh to eat.
Even though they are good to eat, many people around the world keep them as aquarium fish. This is because of their beautiful and colorful appearance.
See also
In Spanish: Acanthostracion quadricornis para niños
Images for kids
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Acanthostracion quadricornis Scrawled cowfish
