Acanthostracion notacanthus

(Bleeker, 1863)

Island Cowfish

Range: Eastern Atlantic Ocean: Azores, St. Helena and Ascension Islands, Ghana, and Angola.

Size: 20 inches (50 cm)

Natural Environment: Inhabits shallow rocky and rubble filled areas mainly around islands and usually found at depths between 3 – 30 feet (1 – 10 m) where it feeds on benthic invertebrates, crustaceans, algae/sea weed, sea squirts, sponges and worms.

General Husbandry: Not collected for the trade.

Taxonomy:

Order: Tetraodontiformes

Suborder: Tetraodontoidei

Family: Ostraciidae

Genus: Acanthostracion

FYI: Shown here for identification only.

Cool water species.

When excited or threatened can release a toxin (ostracitoxin) that may kill other fish.