Cowfish

Creator

Preview

Photo Credit

Meredith C. Swartwout, Ph.D. Candidate, Biological Sciences

Object Type

Dried Mount Oceanic Specimen

Date

Spring 2021

Description

This fish is a member of the Family Ostraciidae, likely a Cowfish, though the family also includes boxfish and trunkfish. They are common but strange-looking ocean fishes. Cowfish have “honeycomb”-like patterns on their skin and the two protruding “horns” over the eyes. These fishes have armored scales that are fused together, forming the box-like shape and making them nearly impossible for predators to eat.

Object Housed

University of Arkansas Museum

Object Accession Number

2005-4-155