Buffalo trunkfish (Lactophrys trigonus)

Scientific name: Lactophrys trigonus Linnaeus, 1758

The Buffalo trunkfish (Lactophrys trigonus) is a marine fish of the family Ostraciidae. Native range: Western Atlantic, Canada, Massachusetts (USA) to Brazil, including Bermuda, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Mediterranean Sea.

Biology

With small diffuse white spots; two areas where the hexagonal plates are dark-edged, forming chain-like markings, one on the pectoral region of the body and the other half way between gill opening and posterior end of carapace; large individuals lose the pale spots and chain markings and develop an irregular dark reticulate pattern over the entire carapace and caudal peduncle.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Lactophrys trigonus
Family: Ostraciidae (Boxfishes)
Order: Tetraodontiformes (Puffers and Filefishes)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 55.0
Common length: 30.0
Depth range: 2–50 m (7–164 ft)
Environment: Marine; reef-associated; depth range 2 - 50 m
Climate: Subtropical
Distribution: Western Atlantic: Canada, Massachusetts (USA) to Brazil, including Bermuda, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean. Mediterranean Sea.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Reports of ciguatera poisoning
Uses: Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Resilience: High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Fec assumed to be > 10,000)