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Rhynchostracion nasus (Bloch, 1785) Shortnose boxfish |
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photo by
Muséum-Aquarium de Nancy/D. Terver |
Family: | Ostraciidae (Boxfishes) | |||
Max. size: | 30 cm TL (male/unsexed) | |||
Environment: | reef-associated; marine; depth range 2 - 80 m | |||
Distribution: | Western Pacific: Sri Lanka (Ref. 1550) and Sumatra to Fiji, north to the Philippines; Palau and Truk in Micronesia. Matsuura 1999, pers. comm. strongly doubts its distribution in the southern GBR (as reported in Lieske & Meyers 1994, Ref. 9710) and does not know of any reliable record of this species from East Africa. | |||
Diagnosis: | Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-9; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 9-9. Has a small protuberance above the mouth and a distinctly concave snout profile. Description: Characterized further by pale grey to yellowish with brown spots; carapace quadrangle in cross section, becoming oval anteriorly, concave sides and ventral surface; relatively high and conspicuous dorsal ridge; anal fin overlapping level of posterior part of dorsal fin; rounded caudal fin (Ref. 90102). | |||
Biology: | Found around rocky and sandy substrates (Ref. 1602). Solitary, also found in sheltered bays exposed to heavy silt and mud bottoms of coastal trawling grounds (Ref. 90102). | |||
IUCN Red List Status: | Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435) | |||
Threat to humans: | venomous |