Acanthostracion guineense
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from FishBase, description from Wikipedia.
Acanthostracion guineense, the West African cowfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. This species is found off the coast of Western Africa in the eastern Atlantic Ocean. This species is the smallest member of the genus Acanthostracion.
- Scientific name
- Acanthostracion guineense
- Authority
- (Bleeker, 1865)
- Family
- Ostraciidae
- Order
- Tetraodontiformes
- Maximum length
- 18 cm
- Habitat zone
- demersal
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Tetraodontiformes · Family: Ostraciidae · Genus: Acanthostracion.
Accepted name: Acanthostracion guineense · Authority: (Bleeker, 1865) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 238343.
Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Acanthostracion guineensis (Bleeker, 1865); Lactophrys guineensis (Bleeker, 1865); Ostracion guineense Bleeker, 1865; Ostracion guineensis Bleeker, 1865; Ostracion guineënsis Bleeker, 1865.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=238343 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Biology and life history (FishBase)
Measured values published by FishBase for Acanthostracion guineense. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 18 cm · Habitat zone: demersal · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.
FishBase notes: Occurs on the shelf (Ref. 11227).
Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 23363) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Acanthostracion-guineense.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
Acanthostracion guineense was first formally described as Ostracion guineense in 1865 by the Dutch physician, herpetologist and ichthyologist Pieter Bleeker, with its type locality giben as "Guinea". The 5th edition of Fishes of the World classifies the genus Acanthostracion in the within the family Ostraciidae in the suborder Ostracioidea within the order Tetraodontiformes.
Acanthostracion guineense is classified within the genus Acanthostracion, this name combines acanthus, which means "spine" or "thorn", with ostracion. Bleeker originally proposed this taxon as a subgenus of the genus Ostracion The Specific name means "of Guinea", it is sometimes written as giuneensis but the genus name is neuter so guineense is correct.
Acanthostracion guineense has a maximum published total length of 18 cm.
Acanthostracion guineense is found in the Eastern Atlantic Ocean along the coast of Western Africa between Mauritania and Angola. It occurs at depths between 0 and 200 m on the continental shelf.
Acanthostracion guineense is classified as data deficient by the IUCN, it is common in some parts of its range but there is very little data on population, life history or ecology.
Source: Wikipedia: Acanthostracion guineense — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acanthostracion_guineense (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Acanthostracion guineense?
It is a small marine boxfish commonly called the West African cowfish, native to the eastern Atlantic off the Western African coast. It holds the distinction of being the smallest species within the genus Acanthostracion.
Where can you find Acanthostracion guineense in the wild?
This demersal species inhabits bottom-associated waters along the coast of Western Africa in the eastern Atlantic Ocean.
How large does Acanthostracion guineense grow?
It reaches a maximum total length of roughly 18 cm, making it the smallest member of the Acanthostracion genus.
What is the taxonomic classification of Acanthostracion guineense?
It belongs to the family Ostraciidae (boxfishes) within the order Tetraodontiformes, and was first formally described by Bleeker in 1865.
What makes Acanthostracion guineense stand out among other boxfishes?
Its primary distinction is being the smallest species in the Acanthostracion genus, and its range is restricted to the Western African sector of the eastern Atlantic rather than spanning a broader distribution.
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