Tetrosomus concatenatus
Species of fish
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The triangular boxfish (Tetrosomus concatenatus) is a species of marine ray-finned fishes belonging to the family Ostraciidae, the boxfishes. The fishes in this genus are known as turretfishes, and they are found in the Indian and western Pacific Oceans.
| Tetrosomus concatenatus | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Tetraodontiformes |
| Family: | Ostraciidae |
| Genus: | Tetrosomus |
| Species: | T. concatenatus |
| Binomial name | |
| Tetrosomus concatenatus (Bloch, 1785) | |
Taxonomy
Tetrosomus concatenatus was first formally described as Ostracion concatenatus in 1785 by the German physician and naturalist Marcus Elieser Bloch, with its type locality given as the Antilles.[1] Although this species is accepted as valid by most authorities, there is some doubt as to its taxonomic validity, and some authorities, regard this taxon as a synonym of Lactophrys triqueter of the Western Atlantic. These authorities argue that specimens from the Indo-Pacific should be assigned to Tetrosomus reipublicae.[2][3] The 5th edition of Fishes of the World classifies the genus Tetrosomus within the family Ostraciidae in the suborder Ostracioidea within the order Tetraodontiformes.[4]
Etymology
Tetrosomus concatenatus is a member of the genus Tetrosomus. This name is a combination of tetra, meaning "four", and somus, which means "body", a reference to the quadrangular shape of the body of this fish. The specific name concatenatus means "linked together" or "chained", an allusion to the chain-like markings on its body.[5]
Description
Tetrosomus concatenatus has a maximum published total length of 30 cm (12 in). It has 9 soft rays in both its dorsal and anal fins. Males have blue spots and a blue line that rapidly fade on capture.[6]
Distribution and habitat
This species is found in the Indo-West Pacific oceans. It ranges from East Africa to southern Japan and New Caledonia. This is a solitary species found in bays and estuaries with large isolated sponges, as well as in sea grass and seaweed beds in cosatal waters.[6]
