Dr. Glen Whisson, Aqua Research and Monitoring Services, Australien
Info
Tetrosomus reipublicae is a greenish to brown or pinkish boxfish with dark spots on juveniles, an increasing number of blue spots and lines as they grow, and two spines along the dorsum.
The slow-moving boxfish inhabits nearshore reef and seagrass areas.
The similar Tetrosomus gibbosus, differs in having a highly elevated dorsal spine with a large single spine at the tip, a concave snout profile, and a rounded caudal fin.
Studies for predatory fish have shown that Tetrosomus reipublicae has very rarely been found in the stomachs of piscivores, one reason for this may be its toxicity, at least to humans.
The specific name is derived from the Latin reipublicae (= state, nation), the name proposed by Ogilby (1913).
Synonyms:
Lactophrys reipublicae Ogilby, 1913
Rhinesomus reipublicae (Ogilby, 1913)
Tetrosomus reipublicae (Ogilby, 1913)
Triorus reipublicae Whitley, 1930
The slow-moving boxfish inhabits nearshore reef and seagrass areas.
The similar Tetrosomus gibbosus, differs in having a highly elevated dorsal spine with a large single spine at the tip, a concave snout profile, and a rounded caudal fin.
Studies for predatory fish have shown that Tetrosomus reipublicae has very rarely been found in the stomachs of piscivores, one reason for this may be its toxicity, at least to humans.
The specific name is derived from the Latin reipublicae (= state, nation), the name proposed by Ogilby (1913).
Synonyms:
Lactophrys reipublicae Ogilby, 1913
Rhinesomus reipublicae (Ogilby, 1913)
Tetrosomus reipublicae (Ogilby, 1913)
Triorus reipublicae Whitley, 1930
