Buffalo trunkfish
📖 Overview
Inhabits seagrass beds, coral rubble areas, and offshore reefs down to about 50 m. Feeds on a wide variety of small benthic invertebrates such as mollusks, crustaceans, worms and sessile tunicates, as well as some sea grasses . Highly esteemed food fish in the Caribbean .
🔬 Taxonomy
🐟 Physical Description
With small diffuse white spots; two areas where the hexagonal plates are dark-edged, forming chain-like markings, one on the pectoral region of the body and the other half way between gill opening and posterior end of carapace; large individuals lose the pale spots and chain markings and develop an irregular dark reticulate pattern over the entire carapace and caudal peduncle .: short and / or deep.
🌀 Behaviour
Behavioural data for Buffalo trunkfish is currently being reviewed.
🦐 Diet
🥚 Reproduction
🌍 Habitat & Distribution
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 2 - 50 m . Subtropical; 45°N - 34°S, 98°W - 34°W
🌿 Ecology
a wide variety of small benthic invertebrates such as mollusks, crustaceans, worms and sessile tunic
📐 Morphometrics
🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance
🛡️ Conservation Assessment
📊 Population Risk & Fisheries
🎣 Angling Guide
- medium-heavy 7ft spinning rod
- 30-50 lb braid
- fluorocarbon leader
- grass flats
- oyster bars
- marsh drains
- deeper channel edges
Use barbless hooks, minimise air exposure, and revive fish head-first in current before release.
⚠️ Slot limits protect breeding-size fish. Verify daily bag limits.
🍽️ Edibility & Flavour
"Buffalo trunkfish is an edible species."
- Clear, bright eyes — cloudy eyes indicate age
- Firm flesh that springs back when pressed
- Fresh ocean smell, never strong or ammonia-like
- Bright red or pink gills, not grey or brown
- Shiny, moist skin with scales tightly attached
- Cloudy or sunken eyes
- Strong fishy or ammonia odour
- Soft, mushy flesh that doesn't spring back
- Discoloured or dry flesh
⚡ Nutrition
Per 100g cooked - Source: USDA FoodData Central
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Protein | 19.1 g |
| Omega-3 (total) | 157 mg |
🔬 Mercury Safety
Mercury data for Buffalo trunkfish has not yet been assigned. Please consult FDA/EPA guidance for general seafood safety advice.
🌿 Sustainability
🔬 Full Nutritional Profile
Per 100g - Raw, per 100g - Source: USDA FoodData Central templates (generic fish average)
📊 Population Dynamics
| Year | Region | Index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - |
🌐 Names & Taxonomy
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Buffalo trunkfish · Trunkfish · Whitespotted trunkfish |
| 🏳️Catalan | Peix cofre búfal |
| 🌍CES | havýš trojrohý |
| 🇩🇰Danish | Vestatlantisk Kuffertfisk |
| 🇩🇪German | Buffalo-Kofferfisch |
| 🇫🇮Finnish | kyhmylosserokala |
| 🇫🇷French | Coffre bossu, Coffre à cornes · Coffre à Cornes |
| 🇮🇹Italian | Pesce tronco bufalo |
| 🇵🇱Polish | Kostera Trygonek |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Baiacu-caixão · Baiacu-chifrudo · Baiacu-cofre · Baiacu-sem-chifre · Baiacu-sem-espinhos · Baiacú · Ostracião · Peixe-cofre · Peixe-cofre-búfalo · Peixe-vaca · Taoca · Vaca-sem-chifre · Cofre |
| 🇷🇺Russian | Обыкновенный лактофрис |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | Botella · Chapin Jorobado · Chapin Tresfilos · Chapín De Lunares Blancos · Cofre · Galina · Pez Gallina · Torito · chapín búfalo · chapín de lunares · Chapin |
Scientific Synonyms
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ostracion expansum | Cope | 1871 | Synonym |
| Ostracion trigonus | Linnaeus | 1758 | Synonym |
| Ostracion undulatus | Poey | 1868 | Synonym |
| Ostracion yalei | Storer | 1836 | Synonym |
| Ostracium expansum | Cope | 1871 | Synonym |
🔍 Similar Species
🗺️ Global Occurrence Map
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 18 records indexed .
👥 Community & Contribute
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