Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Tetraodontiformes (Order) > Balistoidei (Suborder) > Ostraciidae (Family) > Lactoria (Genus)

Poisson-vache à épine dorsale, Backspine cowfish, Thornback cowfish, Thorny-back cowfish, Thorny-back cow-fish, Spiny-backed cow-fish, Rugstekel-koeivis, Shima-umisuzume, シマウミスズメ, 福氏角箱魨,

Synonymes
Lactoria fuscomaculata (von Bonde, 1923)
Lactoria galeodon (Jenkins, 1903)
Ostracion fornasini (Bianconi, 1846)

-------------------------------------------

Description
Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal soft rays: 9; Pectoral fin rays: 11-12 (rarely: 12); Caudal fin rays: 10. Carapace quadrangular in cross section, large, thorn like spine in middle at median ridge on back; Bottom of carapace slightly convex; Short, stout spine extending anteriorly from upper edge of each eye; Posteriorly directed second pair of spines, one on each side of lower rear edge of carapace; 45° angle to horizontal axis of body formed by dorsal profile of snout; Rounded caudal fin. Max. length: 23.0 cm TL. Depth range: 5 - 132 m, usually: 6 - 30 m.

Color
Body pale brown to brownish yellow with blue spots on head and numerous irregular lines.

Etymology
Lactoria: from Latin, lactis = milk.
fornasini: named in honor of Cavaliere Carlo Antonio Fornasini (1802/1805–1865). He was an Italian ivory trader and amateur field naturalist who worked in Mozambique. He collected numerous specimens of animals, insects and plants, and presented them to the Academy of Sciences of the Institute of Bologna in his home city for scientific study. He is remembered for having had during his lifetime several taxa named in his honor.
Original description: Ostracion fornasini Bianconi, 1846 - Type locality: Mozambique, western Indian Ocean.

Distribution
East and South Africa, Seychelles, Madagascar, Mauritius (Mascarenes) and Maldives east to Hawaiian Islands, north to southern Japan, south to Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand.

Biology
Inhabit clear outer lagoon and seaward reefs. Often in weed beds near reefs and in estuaries. Benthopelagic over rubble and sand. Solitary. Males are highly territorial. Boxfish have a toxin on their skin: ostracitoxin.

Similar species
Lactoria cornuta (Linnaeus, 1758) - Reported from New Caledonia. Link to the species (here).
Lactoria diaphana (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) - Reported from New Caledonia.