Florent's Guide To The

Tropical Reefs

Thornback Cowfish
Lactoria fornasini
Thornback Cowfish
Category: Boxfishes
Scientific Name: Lactoria fornasini
Size: Up to 18 in. (46 cm)  
Depth: 3-150 ft. (1-45 m)
Distribution: Indo-Pacific, Hawaii, French Polynesia
Chordata (Phylum)
└Osteichthyes (Parvphylum)
 └Actinopterygii (Gigaclass)
  └Actinopteri (Superclass)
   └Teleostei (Class)
    └Tetraodontiformes (Order)
     └Ostraciidae (Family)
      └Lactoria (Genus)

Odd-Shaped Swimmers
Boxfishes

Thornback Cowfish

Yellow Boxfish (Juvenile)

Yellow Boxfish (Intermediate Adult)

Yellow Boxfish (Adult)

Spotted Boxfish (Male)

Spotted Boxfish (Female)

Solor Boxfish (Male)

Solor Boxfish (Female)

Shortnose Boxfish

Honeycomb Cowfish

Scrawled Cowfish

Spotted Trunkfish

Spotted Trunkfish (Juvenile)

Buffalo Trunkfish

Smooth Trunkfish

Smooth Trunkfish (Juvenile)

Longhorn Cowfish



All Photographs
© 2025 Florent Charpin