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February 28, 2021  |  By Ben Ivers

Scrawled Cowfish

Scrawled Cowfish Acanthostracion quadricornis Live

Scrawled Cowfish - IUCN Conservation Status: LEAST CONCERN

Notice the horns on the scrawled cowfish

Scrawled Cowfish

What catches your eye when you see this photo of a scrawled cowfish? For me it was two-fold: one, the mesmerizing blue and yellow pattern that covered the cowfish's body, and two, the little horns that protrude from the head of the cowfish. Once you notice the horns that this fish has, it's easy to see where its name comes from. With its close resemblance to a bull cow, it couldn't really have any other name.

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Why then is it called a "scrawled" cowfish? The word "scrawled" means to write in a hurried or careless way. The spotted pattern of blue on this cowfish's body does seem to be quite scrawled compared to the neat coloration and patterns of other cowfish. The Indo-Pacific longhorn cowfish has a yellow body with evenly spaced white spots. The ornate cowfish that lives in Australian waters has a repetitive striped pattern with spots around its head. The close Caribbean relative to the scrawled cowfish, the honeycomb cowfish, has a uniform--you guessed it--honeycomb pattern throughout its body.

Behind the Photo

I saw this cowfish while out snorkeling off the coast of Siesta Key, Florida. When I vacation, I can certainly relax, but only for so long. After a certain point (sometimes only a few minutes), I need to get up and do something. That's one of the reasons why I love spending my relaxing time in Siesta Key. If I ever want to get active, I have a world of exploration around me.

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I can wade in crystal clear knee deep water and look for shells. Dozens of varieties of shells wash up in the waters of Siesta Key Beach, and all the tourists and locals know it. You can see everyone walking around with their eyes fixated on the ground in front of them looking for that next best shell to take home as a souvenir.

I can go out on the water in a kayak if I want to use my arms. Out on the kayak, you're likely to see manatees, which enjoy coming into the warm waters off of Siesta Key. They know that there are plenty of sea grasses and algae patches for them to feast on. If you look to the sky or back to the trees along the shore, you're sure to see many species of sea birds. Pelicans, cormorants, and more flock to the beaches and waters in search of their next meal or a quiet place to make a nest.

I can plunge into the water for a snorkel to see the world beneath the water. This is my absolute favorite vacation activity, which is why you'll find me snorkel and fins up in the water for hours at a time each day. I love observing the fish, crabs, corals, and more that interact in the waters just off the shore. Sitting on the beach you just see a vast expanse of repeating ocean, but once under the water, you begin to see the uniqueness of each little area of the water.

This photo was taken while snorkeling

Scrawled cowfish are known to the waters of the Caribbean and the Atlantic

About Scrawled Cowfish

The scientific name for scrawled cowfish is Acanthostracion quadricornis. This particular fish can be found in the waters of the Atlantic and the Caribbean along the coasts of both North and South America within tropical waters. Scrawled cowfish are known to maintain a diet of hermit crabs, sponges, gorgonians, anemones, and marine plants.

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Scrawled cowfish can be found in water as deep as 80 feet. They will grow to be 8 to 15 inches long. The maximum recorded size of a scrawled cowfish is 22 inches long. Scrawled cowfish, like other cowfish, will spend most of their lives in shallow water. When scrawled cowfish go to lay their eggs, they will do so in pelagic waters. This means that the eggs will be floating in the water column and not settled on the sea floor. They will actually develop into their larval stage before ultimately arriving out of the pelagic zone as juvenile fish.

THIS MONTH'S GALLERY
cowfish fish florida macro snorkeling

Article by Ben Ivers

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Matt Hamas and Ben Ivers here. We are focused on fostering a greater understanding and appreciation of the environment. We endeavor to bring you a unique perspective of the wild. Our photos are being placed here for you to enjoy. Please feel free to download any of the photos for your personal use. We are currently seeking partners for printing and developing photos.

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