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Lactophrys triqueter also known as the smooth trunkfish, is a species of boxfish found on and near reefs in the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and subtropical parts of the western Atlantic Ocean.[1]

Lactophrys triqueter
Lactophrys triqueter.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Tetraodontiformes
Family: Ostraciidae
Genus: Lactophrys
Species: L. triqueter
Binomial name
Lactophrys triqueter
(Linnaeus, 1758)

Ostracion triqueter Linnaeus, 1758
Rhinesomus triqueter Linnaeus, 1758



The names Lactophrys triqueter and Rhinesomus triqueter are synonymous. The former is accepted by the Encyclopedia of Life but the World Register of Marine Species [2] and FishBase [3] recognize Rhinesomus triqueter as the valid name. R. triqueter is a species of Lactophrys.[1]



The juveniles have dark coloured bodies covered in large yellow spots. As they get older, they develop a pale area where the honeycomb markings will later appear.[5]


The smooth trunkfish is found down to a depth of about 50 m (164 ft) on coral reefs and over sandy seabeds in the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico and the western Atlantic Ocean. The range extends from Canada and the Gulf of Maine southwards to Brazil.[3]


The smooth trunkfish is normally solitary but sometimes moves around in small groups. It uses its protuberant lips to expel a jet of water which disturbs the sandy seabed and reveals any shallowly buried benthic invertebrates. It feeds on small molluscs, polychaete worms, acorn worms, peanut worms, small crustaceans, sponges and tunicates.[3][5]


In some regions, the smooth trunkfish is caught for human consumption.[3] It is also sometimes kept in reef aquaria. Caution needs to be used however as it produces a toxic substance, ostracitoxin, in mucous secretions from the skin. When the fish is stressed this is liberated into the water and some aquarium tanks and systems have been poisoned by this with the loss of all the other animal inhabitants.[6]


  2. ^ Bailly, N. (2010). Bailly N, ed. "Rhinesomus triqueter (Linnaeus, 1758)". FishBase. World Register of Marine Species. 
  3. ^ a b c d Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2015). "Rhinesomus triqueter" in FishBase. February 2015 version.
  4. ^ Smooth trunkfish (Lactophrys triqueter) Marine Species Identification Portal. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
  5. ^ a b c Lactophrys triqueter; Linnaeus, 1758 Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Retrieved 2012-01-01.
  6. ^ The Puffers Called Box-, Cowfishes, family Ostraciidae WetWebMedia. Retrieved 2012-01-01.