Whitebarred Boxfish, Anoplocapros lenticularis (Richardson, 1841)

Scientific name: Anoplocapros lenticularis
Alternative name/s:
Humpback Boxfish, High-backed Boxfish, Humpty-dumpty, Smooth Boxfish and White-barred Boxfish.
Whitebarred Boxfish, Anoplocapros lenticularis Click to enlarge image
A female Whitebarred Boxfish at a depth of 10m, Kangaroo Island, South Australia, December, 2003. Image: Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Anoplocapros
    Species
    lenticularis
    Family
    Ostraciidae
    Order
    Tetraodontiformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    The species grows to 20 cm in length.

Introduction

The Whitebarred Boxfish has a distinctly hump-backed appearance. The species occurs in coastal southern Australian waters.

Identification

The Whitebarred Boxfish is encased in a rigid bony carapace. It has a deep body with keel-like ridges on the upper and lower margins. The eyes are small and placed high on the head. The snout is concave.

Males and females look different. Females and juveniles are orange with black and white blotches and lines. Males are bright orange with distinct white bands. One band passes from the eye to the mouth. A second band passes from the top of the hump on the fish's back, in front of the pectoral fin and back towards the belly. A third band crosses the body in front of the dorsal and anal fins. A fourth band encircles the caudal peduncle.

Whitebarred Boxfish, Anoplocapros lenticularis
A Whitebarred Boxfish at a depth of 5m, Edithburgh Jetty, South Australia, 18 September 2010. Image: Phil Mercurio
© Phil Mercurio

Habitat

The species occurs on rocky reefs, usually in depths from 10 m to 40 m.

Distribution

The Whitebarred Boxfish occurs in temperate marine waters of southern Australia from southern Victoria to south-western Western Australia.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information. Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

References

  1. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  2. Kuiter, R.H. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
  3. Hutchins, B. & R. Swainston. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Swainston Publishing. Pp. 180.
  4. Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. New Holland. Pp. 433.