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🌊 Marine Least Concern ⚠️ Venomous ⚡ Venomous 🌡️ Subtropical

Roundbelly cowfish

Lactoria diaphana Bloch & Schneider, 1801
Max Length
34 cm
Max Weight
Lifespan
Trophic Level
3.3
Depth
8–50 m
Climate
Subtropical
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
18.00/100
Typical Length
Depth Zone
reef

📖 Overview

Inhabit coral and rocky reefs of coastal areas . Also common on offshore sand and mudflats . Young fish occur in oceanic waters, at or near the surface ; semi-transparent young may enter estuaries . Benthopelagic . Feed on benthic invertebrates . A large number of juveniles were found in the stomachs of flatheads .

Scientific Name
Lactoria diaphana
Authority
Bloch & Schneider, 1801
Habitat
Marine
Climate
Subtropical
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
IUCN Status
LC
Max Length
34 cm
Depth Range
8–50 m
Latitude
28°S – 35°N
Trophic Level
3.3
Resilience
High
Vulnerability
18.00/100
Salinity
30–40 ppt

🐟 Physical Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 9. Small spine on back and short spines before eyes . Caudal fin rays 10 . : short and / or deep.

🌀 Behaviour

Behavioural data for Roundbelly cowfish is currently being reviewed.

🦐 Diet

Diet information for Roundbelly cowfish is currently being compiled.

🥚 Reproduction

Reproduction data for Roundbelly cowfish is currently being compiled.

🌍 Habitat & Distribution

Marine; brackish; reef-associated; depth range 8 - 50 m . Subtropical; 35°N - 28°S Southeast Atlantic: off Swakopmund, Namibia (Ref.

🌿 Ecology

Zone Preferences
🌊 Marine 🌿 Brackish 🪸 Reef Associated
Trophic Level
3.3
Food Items

benthic invertebrates (Ref

📐 Morphometrics

Length–Weight Relationship: W = 0.03715 × L2.8 (TL)
Max TL
34cm
Dorsal Rays
9
Anal Rays
9

🌡️ Water Parameters & Tolerance

Salinity Range
30–40ppt

🛡️ Conservation Assessment

IUCN Category
Least Concern
Assessment Date
2023

📊 Population Risk & Fisheries

Population Resilience
High
Minimum doubling time
Fishing Vulnerability
18.00/100
Low vulnerability
Trophic Level
3.3
Predator
Body Shape
Short and / or deep
Climate Zone
Subtropical
Latitude Range
35°N – 28°S
Described By
Bloch & Schneider, 1801

🌐 Names & Taxonomy

Language Common Names
🇬🇧English Many-spined Cowfish · roundbelly cowfish · Spiny Boxfish · Spiny Cowfish · Transparent Boxfish
🇯🇵Japanese Umisuzume · ウミスズメ
🇷🇺Russian Круглобрюхая лактория · многошипый рогатый кузовок
🇪🇸Spanish cofre espinoso

🗺️ Global Occurrence Map

Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) — 45 records indexed .

Occurrence density from GBIF View GBIF records ↗

👥 Community & Contribute

Aquareap Community Observations
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View all observations for Roundbelly cowfish ↗
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