Ostraciidae

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Ostraciidae
Temporal range: Eocene–Recent
Lactophrys bicaudalis
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Tetraodontiformes
Family: Ostraciidae
Rafinesque, 1810
Genera
See text.[1]

Ostraciidae or Ostraciontidae

genera
.

Description

Members of this family occur in a variety of different colors, and are notable for the hexagonal or "honeycomb" patterns on their skin. They swim in a rowing manner. Their hexagonal plate-like scales are fused together into a solid, triangular or box-like carapace, from which the fins, tail, eyes and mouth protrude. Because of these heavy armoured scales, Ostraciidae are limited to slow movements, but few other fish are able to eat the adults. Ostraciid boxfish of the genus Lactophrys also secrete poisons from their skin into the surrounding water, further protecting them from predation.[3] Although the adults are in general quite square in shape, young Ostraciidae are more rounded. The young often exhibit brighter colors than the adults. The scrawled cowfish, Acanthostracion quadricornis, can grow up to 50 centimetres (20 in) in length, but is generally smaller at higher latitudes.

Range

Ostraciids occur in the

Pacific oceans, generally at middle latitudes, although the common or buffalo trunkfish (Lactophrys trigonus) which lives mainly in Florida waters may be found as far north as Cape Cod
.

Toxic defences

The various members of this family are able to secrete cationic

echinoderms.[5] When this toxic mucus is released from the fish, it quickly dissolves in the environment and negatively affects any fish in the surrounding area. It is possible since this toxin resembles certain detergents so closely, that adding these detergents as pollutants to seawater has potential to interfere with receptor-mediated processes in marine life.[7]

Classification

Tetrosomus gibbosus
Lactoria fornasini
Lactophrys triqueter

The author Keiichi Matsuura lists the following genera and species:[1]

Fossil taxa

Extant taxa

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.1007/s10228-014-0444-5
    .
  2. ISBN 978-1-118-3423-36
    .
  3. ISBN 978-0-12-547665-2
    .
  4. ^ Abdulhaqq, A.J. & Shier, W.T. (1991): Icthyocrinotoxins and their potential use as shark repellents. Journal of Toxicology-Toxin Reviews, 10 (3): 289-320.
  5. ^
    S2CID 37688987
    .
  6. ^ Pubchem. "palmitic acid - C16H32O2 - PubChem".
  7. PMID 11753441
    .
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