Summary ⁹

The scrawled cowfish, Acanthostracion quadricornis, belongs to the Ostraciidae family and is closely related to boxfish and trunkfish. They range in size from 8-15 inches, with a maximum length of 18 inches, and can be found at depths between 6 and 80 feet. It is common to occasional in Florida and Bahamas; occasional to uncommon in the Caribbean. It may occur in the Gulf of Mexico, north to Massachusetts, Bermuda and south to Brazil. It has distinctive features...

Biology ¹⁰

Found in shallow water down to about 80 m, mainly in seagrass beds (Ref. 3696). Feeds on sessile invertebrates such as tunicates, gorgonians and anemones, as well as on slow-moving crustaceans, sponges (Ref. 3696), hermit crabs and marine plants (Ref. 13442). Oviparous (Ref. 205). Considered an excellent food fish; marketed fresh (Ref. 3696).

Distribution ¹¹

Western Atlantic: Massachusetts (USA), Bermuda, and northern Gulf of Mexico to southeastern Brazil

Morphology ¹²

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 10

Size ¹³

Maximum size: 550 mm TL

Diagnostic description ¹⁴

Dark markings on head and body; parallel bands on cheek. Pair of prominent spines projecting from in front of eyes suggests cow horns. Second pair of spines at lower rear corners of cuirass (Ref. 26938). Body deep, covered with hexagonal dermal plates (Ref. 37521).

Environment ¹⁵

reef-associated; marine; depth range ? - 80 m (Ref. 26938), usually 10 - 30 m (Ref. 40849)

Link to Access Genomic Data ¹⁶

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?id=587042&lvl=0

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Barry Peters`, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Juvie_Acanthostracion_quadricornis.jpg
2. (c) NOAA Photo Library, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://www.flickr.com/photos/51647007@N08/5188066846
3. (c) Flickr, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8478/8191739834_db91124d5f_o.jpg
4. (c) Kent Miller, some rights reserved (CC BY-ND), uploaded by Kent Miller
5. Frank and Joyce Burek, no known copyright restrictions (public domain), https://www.biolib.cz/IMG/GAL/26485.jpg
6. (c) naturelady, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by naturelady
7. (c) Callie, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Callie
8. (c) John E. Randall, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://d1iraxgbwuhpbw.cloudfront.net/images/species/acqua_u0.jpg
9. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acanthostracion_quadricornis
10. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) FishBase, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/20837889
11. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) WoRMS for SMEBD, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://eol.org/data_objects/28472418
12. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) FishBase, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/20837891
13. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) FishWise Professional, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/24194654
14. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) FishBase, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/20837890
15. Adapted by matbio from a work by (c) FishBase, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/20837897
16. (c) matbio, all rights reserved

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• FishBase
• FishSource
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• VertNet
• World Register of Marine Species

Range Map

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