Tetrosomus gibbosus

Pyramid boxfish ( Tetrosomus gibbosus )

The pyramid boxfish ( Tetrosomus gibbosus ) lives in the Red Sea and tropical Indo-Pacific from East Africa to southern Japan, Indonesia and northern Australia. It is through the Suez Canal immigrated to the southeastern Mediterranean ( Lessepssche migration). It prefers coastal reefs and keeps mostly to near the Riffbasis to depths of 110 meters over sand and soft soil, seagrass and algae fields. The solitary fish feed on bottom-dwelling invertebrates.

Features

Characteristic of the species is of almost triangular cross- section of the body with a large spike in the middle of the back and the sharp, barbed lateral belly strips. Also located above the eyes in each case a sting. The fish are gray to ocher with some irregular bruises. The polygonal edges of the tank forming bone plates are often clearly visible. Pyramid box fish 30 inches long.

Fins formula: Dorsal 9, Anal 9-10,