Scrawled cowfish

Lore & Background

The scrawled cowfish was first formally described as Ostracion quadricornis by Carl Linnaeus in the 10th edition of Systema Naturae, published in 1758. Linnaeus erroneously gave the type locality as "India". In 1865 Pieter Bleeker proposed a new subgenus of Ostracion called Acanthostracion, and later that year designated Ostracion quadricornis as the type species. The genus name Acanthostracion combines acanthus, meaning "spine" or "thorn", with ostracion; the specific name quadricornis means "four horned", referring to the superorbital spines and those at each lower rear corner of the carapace. The common name "cowfish" refers to the spines above its eyes, which resemble the horns of a cow.

The scrawled cowfish has a thick, oblong body largely enclosed in a thickened carapace with enlarged, plate-like hexagonal scales. A pair of large spines projects over and beyond the eyes from each orbit, and another pair occurs at each lower rear corner of the carapace. The overall color varies from gray-brown to yellowish green, with a longitudinal blue strip running from the snout to the origin of the anal fin, and many irregular blackish-blue to bright blue stripes and spots on the body. Juveniles are pale gray-brown with blue spots having dark edges. This species feeds on sessile invertebrates including tunicates, gorgonians, and sea anemones, as well as slow-moving crustaceans, sponges, hermit crabs, and some marine vegetation. It has been recorded spawning in January and February, and between June and the end of September in Venezuelan waters; eggs and larvae are pelagic.

Reader's Guide

The scrawled cowfish is regarded as quite tasty if cooked properly and is locally abundant in the Caribbean region, where it is often sold fresh. In many places around the world it is used as an aquarium fish because of its beautiful coloration. As with other species of boxfish, its bony carapace gives it a distinctly angular appearance; its oblate form has been compared to a frisbee. The species is classified within the family Ostraciidae, in the suborder Ostracioidea, within the order Tetraodontiformes, according to the 5th edition of Fishes of the World. Its presence in shallow waters, most frequently in seagrass beds, and along the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula in the marine zones of lagoon ecosystems, highlights its ecological role in these habitats. The scrawled cowfish's distinctive appearance and relative abundance make it a recognizable species within its Western Atlantic range, though its blue markings are absent in some individuals.

Did You Know?

• Linnaeus erroneously gave the type locality of the scrawled cowfish as 'India'.
• The specific name quadricornis means 'four horned', referring to spines above the eyes and at the lower rear corners of the carapace.
• The scrawled cowfish has a maximum total length of 55 cm (22 in).
• Its eggs and larvae are pelagic, with settlement taking place after metamorphosis into juveniles.