Honeycomb cowfish

Honeycomb Cowfish in the Caribbean on Bonaire.

The Honeycomb Cowfish ( Acanthostracion polygonius ) lives in the tropical western Atlantic from New Jersey and Bermuda to the coast of Brazil and the Caribbean, but not in the Gulf of Mexico. With the Gulf Stream copies are verdriftete to the coast of New England.

Features

The fish can remain reach a maximum length of 50 cm, but usually at a length of 25 cm. They show yellowish base a pattern of five-to six squared, closely spaced spots that are surrounded by the thin dark lines. The belly is purple. About the eyes, there are two spines.

Way of life

The fish live away from the coast as a loner and keep in depths of 3 to 80 meters preferred over coral and rocky reefs. They feed on various invertebrates such as sea anemones, shrimps, sponges, gorgonians and sea squirts.