The yellow boxfish (Ostracion cubicum) is a species of boxfish found in reefs throughout the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean as well as the southeastern Atlantic Ocean. Recorded occasionally since 2011 in the Levantine waters of the Mediterranean Sea which it likely entered via the Suez Canal, it is a species appreciated in the aquarium trade.[1]
O. cubicum reaches a maximum length of 45 centimetres (18 in). As the name suggests, it is box-shaped. Boxfish are also known for their armored and rigid body which in most cases would inhibit locomotion. This disadvantage is offset by the boxfish's carapace shape which is much more advantageous for its adapted style of swimming, known as ostraciiform locomotion.[2] When juvenile, it is bright yellow in color. As it ages, the brightness fades and very old specimens have blue-grey to black coloration with faded yellow.
While they are mainly known to reside in Indian coasts, earlier records show that this species has earlier reports in the Lakshadweep Islands, Andaman & Nicobar Islands as well as the Chennai coast
The yellow boxfish's diet consists mainly of marine algae, but it may also feed on worms, sponges, crustaceans, molluscs, and small fish.[3]
When stressed or injured it releases the neurotoxintetrodotoxin (TTX) from its skin, which may prove lethal to fish in surrounding waters.[4] The bright yellow color and black spots are a form of warning coloration (aposematism) to any potential predators.[5]
Yellow boxfish are solitary animals. Breeding occurs during the spring, in small groups that consist of 1 male and 2–4 females.[6]
In 2006, Mercedes-Benz unveiled its Bionic concept car, which was inspired by the shape of the yellow boxfish.[7] It was assumed that due to the extreme agility with which boxfish maneuver, that their shape was aerodynamic and self-stabilizing. However, analysis by scientists suggests that boxfish agility is instead due to the combination of an aerodynamically unstable body and the manner in which the fish use their fins for movement.[8]
Yellow boxfish being sold in a restaurant in Jakarta
^Santini, Francesco (2013). "A multilocus molecular phylogeny of boxfishes (Aracanidae, Ostraciidae; Tetraodontiformes)". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 66 (1). Elsevier: 153–160. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2012.09.022. PMID 23036494.
^Lougher, Tristan (2006). What Fish?: A Buyer's Guide to Marine Fish. Interpet Publishing. p. 182. ISBN978-0-7641-3256-8. What does it eat? In the wild, mainly marine algae, worms, crustaceans, molluscs, and small fish.
^Nagashima, Y., Ohta, A., Yin, X., Ishizaki, S., Matsumoto, T., Doi, H. and Ishibashi, T. (2018). Difference in Uptake of Tetrodotoxin and Saxitoxins into Liver Tissue Slices among Pufferfish, Boxfish and Porcupinefish. Marine Drugs, 16(1), p.17.
^Kalmanzon, E., Zlotkin, E., & Aknin-Herrmann, R. (1999). Protein-Surfactant interactions in the defensive skin secretion of the Red Sea trunkfish Ostracion cubicus Marine Biology, 135 (1), 141-146 DOI: 10.1007/s002270050611
^* Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2006). "Ostracion cubicus" in FishBase. November 2006 version.
^Phenix, M. Mercedes' fish-inspired car. CNN Technology. March 15, 2007.
^Buehler, Jake (11 March 2015). "A Real Drag: Mercedes-Benz modeled a car on the boxfish. Only it completely misunderstood the boxfish". Slate. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ostracion cubicus.
Wikispecies has information related to Ostracion cubicum.
Information, images and videos of the yellow boxfish
Photos of Yellow boxfish on Sealife Collection
January 01, 1970
yellow, boxfish, yellow, boxfish, ostracion, cubicum, species, boxfish, found, reefs, throughout, pacific, ocean, indian, ocean, well, southeastern, atlantic, ocean, recorded, occasionally, since, 2011, levantine, waters, mediterranean, which, likely, entered,. The yellow boxfish Ostracion cubicum is a species of boxfish found in reefs throughout the Pacific Ocean and Indian Ocean as well as the southeastern Atlantic Ocean Recorded occasionally since 2011 in the Levantine waters of the Mediterranean Sea which it likely entered via the Suez Canal it is a species appreciated in the aquarium trade 1 Yellow boxfish Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Actinopterygii Order Tetraodontiformes Family Ostraciidae Genus Ostracion Species O cubicum Binomial name Ostracion cubicumLinnaeus 1758 Synonyms Ostracion tuberculatus Linnaeus 1758 Ostracion argus Ruppel 1828 O cubicum reaches a maximum length of 45 centimetres 18 in As the name suggests it is box shaped Boxfish are also known for their armored and rigid body which in most cases would inhibit locomotion This disadvantage is offset by the boxfish s carapace shape which is much more advantageous for its adapted style of swimming known as ostraciiform locomotion 2 When juvenile it is bright yellow in color As it ages the brightness fades and very old specimens have blue grey to black coloration with faded yellow While they are mainly known to reside in Indian coasts earlier records show that this species has earlier reports in the Lakshadweep Islands Andaman amp Nicobar Islands as well as the Chennai coastThe yellow boxfish s diet consists mainly of marine algae but it may also feed on worms sponges crustaceans molluscs and small fish 3 When stressed or injured it releases the neurotoxin tetrodotoxin TTX from its skin which may prove lethal to fish in surrounding waters 4 The bright yellow color and black spots are a form of warning coloration aposematism to any potential predators 5 Yellow boxfish are solitary animals Breeding occurs during the spring in small groups that consist of 1 male and 2 4 females 6 In 2006 Mercedes Benz unveiled its Bionic concept car which was inspired by the shape of the yellow boxfish 7 It was assumed that due to the extreme agility with which boxfish maneuver that their shape was aerodynamic and self stabilizing However analysis by scientists suggests that boxfish agility is instead due to the combination of an aerodynamically unstable body and the manner in which the fish use their fins for movement 8 Yellow boxfish being sold in a restaurant in JakartaReferences edit Atlas of Exotic Fishes in the Mediterranean Sea Ostracion cubicus 2nd Edition 2021 366p CIESM Publishers Paris Monaco https ciesm org atlas fishes 2nd edition Ostracion cubicus pdf Santini Francesco 2013 A multilocus molecular phylogeny of boxfishes Aracanidae Ostraciidae Tetraodontiformes Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 66 1 Elsevier 153 160 doi 10 1016 j ympev 2012 09 022 PMID 23036494 Lougher Tristan 2006 What Fish A Buyer s Guide to Marine Fish Interpet Publishing p 182 ISBN 978 0 7641 3256 8 What does it eat In the wild mainly marine algae worms crustaceans molluscs and small fish Nagashima Y Ohta A Yin X Ishizaki S Matsumoto T Doi H and Ishibashi T 2018 Difference in Uptake of Tetrodotoxin and Saxitoxins into Liver Tissue Slices among Pufferfish Boxfish and Porcupinefish Marine Drugs 16 1 p 17 Kalmanzon E Zlotkin E amp Aknin Herrmann R 1999 Protein Surfactant interactions in the defensive skin secretion of the Red Sea trunkfish Ostracion cubicus Marine Biology 135 1 141 146 DOI 10 1007 s002270050611 Froese Rainer Pauly Daniel eds 2006 Ostracion cubicus in FishBase November 2006 version Phenix M Mercedes fish inspired car CNN Technology March 15 2007 Buehler Jake 11 March 2015 A Real Drag Mercedes Benz modeled a car on the boxfish Only it completely misunderstood the boxfish Slate Retrieved 11 March 2015 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ostracion cubicus nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Ostracion cubicum Information images and videos of the yellow boxfish Photos of Yellow boxfish on Sealife Collection Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Yellow boxfish amp oldid 1190931241, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
