Spotted trunkfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Spotted trunkfish |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Lactophrys
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| Species: |
bicaudalis
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The spotted trunkfish (Lactophrys bicaudalis) is a cool fish that lives in the ocean. It belongs to a group of fish called Ostraciidae, also known as boxfishes. You can find this fish in coral reefs across the Caribbean Sea and parts of the Atlantic Ocean. It's easy to spot because of the many black spots on its white or yellow-gold body. People in the Caribbean sometimes call it the boxfish, cow-fish, or shellfish.
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What Does a Spotted Trunkfish Look Like?
Spotted trunkfish are famous for their unique shape. They have a hard outer shell, almost like a box! This shell is made of many small, flat scales joined together. It covers most of their body, making them look like a triangle or a box.
Only their eyes, snout (nose area), fins, and tail stick out from this strong shell. The spotted trunkfish is usually white or yellowish. It has lots of black spots all over its body and tail. Right behind its eye, adult fish have three white spots in a row. Their snout is plain white. They also have two sharp spines near their bottom fin.
Where Do Spotted Trunkfish Live?
You can find the spotted trunkfish in the warm waters of the Caribbean Sea. They also live in the southern part of the Gulf of Mexico. You might see them near Ascension Island and along the northeastern coast of South America, all the way to Brazil.
These fish love clear water. They usually hang out around coral reefs. They like places with cracks, holes, and rocky overhangs. They can live in water as deep as about 30 meters (100 feet).
How Do Spotted Trunkfish Live?
Because of their heavy, armored shell, spotted trunkfish move slowly. They mostly use their top and bottom fins to ripple through the water. They also gently flap their side fins. If they need to go faster, they can use their tail fin to push themselves.
These fish live near the seabed, which is the bottom of the ocean. They eat food they find there. Their diet includes small crabs and shrimps. They also munch on molluscs, sea urchins, and starfish. Sometimes, they eat brittle stars, sea cucumbers, and even some types of seagrasses.
Spotted Trunkfish and Their Special Defense
Spotted trunkfish, like all trunkfish in their group, have a cool defense mechanism. If you touch them, they can release a clear liquid from their skin. This liquid is a special toxin. It's only dangerous if an animal eats it. So, it won't hurt divers who touch them. However, predators, like large nurse sharks, can get sick or even die if they try to eat a trunkfish. This special ability helps keep them safe from bigger ocean animals.
