Lactoria fornasini Bianconi 1846

thorny-back cowfish

Lactoria fornasini, thorny-back cowfish

Adult Thorny-back Cowfish, Lactoria fornasini, (left & below) are greenish brown with blue spots and dashes.

Juveniles have dark blotches and small blue spots.

Thorny-back Cowfish are covered with hard, bony armour. There is a pair of large spines which point forward in front of the eyes, another pair which point backwards, near the tail and there is a single one on the back.

Lactoria fornasini, thorny-back cowfish
Family =  Ostraciidae - tropical boxfishes
Max size =  20cms
Distribution =  northern Australia, Coral Bay WA to Sydney