HomeFreshwater aquarium fishOther freshwater fishLonghorn cowfish Longhorn cowfish (Lactoria cornuta) Scientific name: Lactoria cornuta Linnaeus, 1758 The Longhorn cowfish (Lactoria cornuta) is a brackish-water fish of the family Ostraciidae. Native range: Indo-Pacific, Red Sea and East Africa to the Marquesan and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island. BiologyDorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 8-9; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 8 - 9. Cryptic coloring ranges from green and olive to orange with blue spots. Caudal fin rays 9-10.Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0. Species factsScientific nameLactoria cornutaFamilyOstraciidae (Boxfishes)OrderTetraodontiformes (Puffers and Filefishes)ClassActinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)Maximum length46.0Common length40.0Depth range18–100 m (59–328 ft)EnvironmentMarine; brackish; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 18 - 100 mClimateTropicalDistributionIndo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to the Marquesan and Tuamoto islands, north to southern Japan, south to Lord Howe Island.Conservation status (IUCN)Not EvaluatedThreat to humansReports of ciguatera poisoningUsesFisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercialResilienceHigh, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Fec assumed to be > 10,000) More other freshwater fishSouth American lungfishLepidosiren paradoxaLined soleAchirus lineatusPumpkinseedLepomis gibbosusShort-tailed pipefishMicrophis brachyurus brachyurusFinescale tigerfishDatnioides microlepisFreshwater garfishXenentodon cancilaSee all other freshwater fish SourcesTaxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.Last updated 27 September 2026