denise
08-12-2008, 05:01 PM
Cowfish 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. Younger cowfish have a more rounded shape, and are usually brighter than adults. Both adults and young fish can change their color for camouflage. Because of their box-shaped body structure, cowfish are limited to very slow swimming movements. This limited motion, called ostraciform swimming, causes them to look as if they are hovering. Cowfish can be easily identified from their close relatives the trunkfish as they have a sharp spine over each eye.
Cowfish live in a variety of habitats, from sea grass beds to coral reefs. Their diet is also very varied, including sponges, anemones, crabs, shrimps, algae.
In Florida we have two native cowfish, the scrawled cowfish and honeycomb cowfish.
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/HoneycombCowfish.jpg
Honeycomb cowfish, Acanthostacion polygonia, over a barrel sponge.
The honeycomb pattern on this cowfish, easily identifies it from other cowfish. The honeycomb cowfish's color ranges from blue to green and yellow. They can also change their color when camouflaging themselves.
http://www.dayo.com/fishid/honeycombcowfishrob_1.jpg
Honeycomb cowfish over a coral reef, West Palm Beach
Photo by Robert Palmer
Honeycomb cowfish are not very common on the Atlantic coast of Florida, and much rarer on the Gulf coast side. They are more common in the Bahamas, and throughout the Caribbean.
http://www.dayo.com/fishid/scrawledcowfishrob_1.jpg
Scrawled cowfish, Acanthostracion quadricomis, Boynton Beach.
Photo by Robert Palmer
Scrawled cowfish range in size from 8-15 inches, and are generally found at depths of 6-80 feet. They are common in Florida and the Bahamas. They live in a wide range of habitats including grass beds and coral reefs. If they are disturbed they usually remain motionless relying on their camouflage to protect them.
http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/gallery/files/4/5/1/scrawledcowfishrobert_1.jpg
Scrawled cowfish
Photo by Robert Palmer
Cowfish live in a variety of habitats, from sea grass beds to coral reefs. Their diet is also very varied, including sponges, anemones, crabs, shrimps, algae.
In Florida we have two native cowfish, the scrawled cowfish and honeycomb cowfish.
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/HoneycombCowfish.jpg
Honeycomb cowfish, Acanthostacion polygonia, over a barrel sponge.
The honeycomb pattern on this cowfish, easily identifies it from other cowfish. The honeycomb cowfish's color ranges from blue to green and yellow. They can also change their color when camouflaging themselves.
http://www.dayo.com/fishid/honeycombcowfishrob_1.jpg
Honeycomb cowfish over a coral reef, West Palm Beach
Photo by Robert Palmer
Honeycomb cowfish are not very common on the Atlantic coast of Florida, and much rarer on the Gulf coast side. They are more common in the Bahamas, and throughout the Caribbean.
http://www.dayo.com/fishid/scrawledcowfishrob_1.jpg
Scrawled cowfish, Acanthostracion quadricomis, Boynton Beach.
Photo by Robert Palmer
Scrawled cowfish range in size from 8-15 inches, and are generally found at depths of 6-80 feet. They are common in Florida and the Bahamas. They live in a wide range of habitats including grass beds and coral reefs. If they are disturbed they usually remain motionless relying on their camouflage to protect them.
http://www.scubadiver.cc/forums/gallery/files/4/5/1/scrawledcowfishrobert_1.jpg
Scrawled cowfish
Photo by Robert Palmer