Striped burrfish: Difference between revisions

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The burrfish or spiny Boxfish, Chilomycterus Schoepfi, is a member of the porcupinefish family Diodontidae.

Description

It is distinguished from the porcupinefish by the shorter, less sharply pointed, and immovable spines which cover the somewhat spherical body. It can inflate its body by taking either air or water into a ventral extension of the stomach. Its color is olivaceous or brownish above and pale yellow below. The back and sides are irregularly striped with brownish, dusky, or black lines which are parallel to each other and which run obliquely downward. There are several large black spots on the sides, one just below the dorsal fin, and another behind the pectoral fin. Its maximum size is about 10 inches.

Distribution

It is found mostly in the tropics from the West Indies to Floridia, and is found sparingly along the Atlantic coast, sometimes as far north as Cape Cod, and regularly during the late summer and fall in the vicinity of New York.

Habitat

It spawns off New Jersey in July.

Diet

It feeds on invertebrates such as oysters, barnacles, and hermit crabs.

Fishing technique

It has no commercial value but is occasionally taken by fishermen and stuffed as curio. It is often washed ashore along the beach and is a treacherous object if stepped on by mistake with bare feet. Other species of burr and porcupine fish are found in the tropics.

References

E. C. Raney "Burrfish." The Wise Fishermen's Encyclopedia (1951)

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 <!-- Image with unknown copyright status removed: [[Image:Burrfish.gif|thumb|Burrfish, (Chilomycterus Schoepfi)]] -->
-The '''Burrfish''', also known as ''[[Chilomycterus]] Schoepfi'' or Spiny [[Boxfish]], is a member of the [[porcupinefish]] family, ''[[Diodontidae]]''.
+The '''burrfish''' or '''spiny [[Boxfish]]''', ''Chilomycterus Schoepfi'', is a member of the [[porcupinefish]] [[family (biology)|family]] [[Diodontidae]].
 ==Description==
 It is distinguished from the [[porcupinefish]] by the shorter, less sharply pointed, and immovable [[spines]] which cover the somewhat [[spherical]] body.  It can inflate its body by taking either air or water into a [[ventral]] extension of the [[stomach]].  Its color is olivaceous or brownish above and pale yellow below.  The back and sides are irregularly striped with brownish, dusky, or black lines which are parallel to each other and which run obliquely downward.  There are several large black spots on the sides, one just below the dorsal fin, and another behind the [[pectoral fin]].  Its maximum size is about 10 inches.
-==Distribution and habitat==
+==Distribution==
 It is found mostly in the [[tropics]] from the [[West Indies]] to [[Floridia]], and is found sparingly along the [[Atlantic]] coast, sometimes as far north as [[Cape Cod]], and regularly during the late summer and fall in the vicinity of [[New York]].
-==Habitats==
+==Habitat==
 It spawns off [[New Jersey]] in July.
-==Food==
+==Diet==
 It feeds on [[invertebrates]] such as [[oysters]], [[barnacles]], and [[hermit crab]]s.
-==Fishing Technique==
+==Fishing technique==
+It has no commercial value but is occasionally taken by fishermen and stuffed as [[curio]].  It is often washed ashore along the beach and is a treacherous object if stepped on by mistake with bare feet.  Other species of burr and porcupine fish are found in the [[tropics]].
-It has no commercial value but is occasionally taken by fishermen and stuffed as [[curio]].  It is often washed ashore along the beach and is a treacherous object if stepped on by mistake with bare feet.  Other species of ''burr and porcupine'' fish are found in the [[tropics]].
 ==References==
+* E. C. Raney  "Burrfish." ''The Wise Fishermen's Encyclopedia'' (1951)
+[[Category:Diodontidae]]
-*E. C. Raney  "Burrfish." ''The Wise Fishermen's Encyclopedia'' (1951)
-[[Category:Tetraodontiformes]]