Florent's Guide To The

French Polynesian 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) Chordates
└Vertebrata (Subphylum) Vertebrates
 └Osteichthyes (Parvphylum) Bony Fishes
  └Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) Ray-Finned Fish
   └Teleostei (Class) Teleosts
    └Tetraodontiformes (Order)
     └Balistoidei (Suborder)
      └Ostraciidae (Family) Boxfishes
       └Lactoria (Genus)
        └L. fornasini (Species)
WoRMS ID: 219902🔗
iNaturalist ID: 199600🔗

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© 2026 Florent Charpin