Trunkfish

[denise]

Trunkfish belong to a special group of square-shaped fish called boxfish, whose skeleton is modified to a box-like armour which covers their entire body. Because of their rigid ad bulky box-shaped body structure, trunkfish are limited to very slow swimming movements. This poor swimming motion, called ostraciform swimming, causes them to look as if they are hovering. Trunkfish are easily identified from their close relatives the cowfish as they have no sharp spines over each eye, as cowfish do. However they do have two sharp spines guarding their rear fins.

Trunkfish are shy but curious fish that swim slowly above reefs, often hovering under ledges or over small holes. Trunkfish feed a various benthic invertebrates by blowing jets of water into the substrate and grabbing their prey. Some trunkfishes can secrete a poison, which is fatal to other fish.


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Smooth Trunkfish, Lactophrys triqueter, hovering over coral reef, West Palm Beach

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Smooth trunkfish hiding under ledge, Pompano Beach

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Juvenile smooth trunkfish, Delray Ledge

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Very juvenile smooth trunkfish, West Palm Beach
Photo by Debbie Buck