Triangular boxfish (Tetrosomus concatenatus)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from FishBase, occurrence map from GBIF, description from Wikipedia.
The triangular boxfish (Tetrosomus concatenatus) is a species of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. The fishes in this genus are known as turretfishes, and they are found in the Indian and western Pacific Oceans.
- Scientific name
- Tetrosomus concatenatus
- Authority
- (Bloch, 1785)
- Family
- Ostraciidae
- Order
- Tetraodontiformes
- Maximum length
- 30 cm
- Habitat zone
- reef-associated
- Gbif occurrence records
- 188
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Tetraodontiformes · Family: Ostraciidae · Genus: Tetrosomus.
Accepted name: Tetrosomus concatenatus · Authority: (Bloch, 1785) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 219916.
Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Lactophrys tritropis Snyder, 1911; Ostracion concatenatus Bloch, 1785; Rhinosomus concatenatus (Bloch, 1785); Tetrasomus concatenatus (Bloch, 1785); Tetrosomus tritropis (Snyder, 1911).
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=219916 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Biology and life history (FishBase)
Measured values published by FishBase for Tetrosomus concatenatus. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 30 cm · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: short and / or deep · Vulnerability index: 20 of 100 · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.
FishBase notes: Enters muddy bays or estuaries; usually with large remote sponges (Ref. 48637). Solitary. Also found in seagrass and weed bottoms of coastal reefs (Ref. 90102).
Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 8060) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Tetrosomus-concatenatus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
188 georeferenced occurrence records for Tetrosomus concatenatus are published through GBIF from 15 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 66 distinct locations from a sample of 188 records, omitting 14 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.
Most records by country or area: South Africa (113); Japan (26); Mozambique (15); Australia (8); Madagascar (5); New Caledonia (4); Réunion (4); Somalia (3); Chinese Taipei (3); Philippines (2); Fiji (1); India (1); Mauritius (1); Seychelles (1); Thailand (1).
Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Mozambican Exclusive Economic Zone; Seychellois Exclusive Economic Zone; Réunion Exclusive Economic Zone; Mauritian Exclusive Economic Zone; South Africa (country).
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2408172) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2408172&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=219916 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
Tetrosomus concatenatus was first formally described as Ostracion concatenatus in 1785 by the German physician and naturalist Marcus Elieser Bloch, with its type locality given as the Antilles. Although this species is accepted as valid by most authorities, there is some doubt as to its taxonomic validity, and some authorities, regard this taxon as a synonym of Lactophrys triqueter of the Western Atlantic. These authorities argue that specimens from the Indo-Pacific should be assigned to Tetrosomus reipublicae. The 5th edition of Fishes of the World classifies the genus Tetrosomus within the family Ostraciidae in the suborder Ostracioidea within the order Tetraodontiformes.
Tetrosomus concatenatus is a member of the genus Tetrosomus. This name is a combination of tetra, meaning "four", and somus, which means "body", a reference to the quadrangular shape of the body of this fish. The specific name concatenatus means "linked together" or "chained", an allusion to the chain-like markings on its body.
Tetrosomus concatenatus has a maximum published total length of 30 cm. It has 9 soft rays in both its dorsal and anal fins. Males have blue spots and a blue line that rapidly fade on capture.
This species is found in the Indo-West Pacific oceans. It ranges from East Africa to southern Japan and New Caledonia. This is a solitary species found in bays and estuaries with large isolated sponges, as well as in sea grass and seaweed beds in cosatal waters.
Source: Wikipedia: Tetrosomus concatenatus — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetrosomus_concatenatus (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
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