Their name and shape!Ostraciidae is a family of squared, bony fish closely related to the pufferfishes and filefishes. Members of this family occur in a variety of different colors (e.g. right -
Hawaiian Blue Boxfish,
Ostracion meleagris and the
Yellow Boxfish,
Ostracion cubicus), and are notable for the hexagonal or "honeycomb" patterns on their skin.
Boxfish swim in a rowing manner. Their hexagonal plate-like scales are fused together into a solid, triangular or box-like carapace, from which the fins, tail, eyes and mouth protrude. Because of these heavy armoured scales, Ostraciidae are limited to slow movements, but few other fish are able to eat the adults.
Some boxfish also secrete poisons from their skin into the surrounding water, further protecting them from predation. Although the adults are in general quite square in shape, young Ostraciidae are more rounded. The young often exhibit brighter colors than the adults. The boxfish's humble diet of algae, and occasionally sponges, crustaceans and molluscs allow it to reach a maximum length of 45 centimetres (18 inches).
