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Honeycomb Cowfish (skin)

Acanthostracion polygonius

Description:

Early this morning taking a walk at the beach i find this incredible Honeycomb cawfish skin actually is possible to see small hexagon shields made of cartilage, Members of this family occur in a variety of different colors, and are notable for the hexagonal or "honeycomb" patterns on their skin. They swim in a rowing manner. The hexagonal plate-like scales of these fish are fused together into a solid, triangular, box-like carapace, from which the fins, tail, eyes and mouth protrude. Because of these heavy armoured scales, Ostraciidae are limited to slow movements, but few other fish are able to eat the adults.

Habitat:

Find in coral reef from Florida all Caribbean sea to north Brazil.

Notes:

The various members of this family are able to secrete cationic surfactants through their skin which can act as a chemical defense mechanism. Wikipedia.

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39 Comments (1–25)

ryan.roo13
ryan.roo13 9 years ago

Those look really cool on how that was cowfish skin. I never thought it would look like that

Gerardo Aizpuru
Gerardo Aizpuru 10 years ago

Thanks to you Dana :)

Gerardo Aizpuru
Gerardo Aizpuru 11 years ago

Thanks DrP done :)

drP
drP 11 years ago

I think this would be a great addition to the Life and Mathematics mission:
http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/9071...

drP
drP 11 years ago

Fabulous spotting!

Gerardo Aizpuru
Gerardo Aizpuru 11 years ago

Thanks Susi, ncialia and outdooreducation :)

Julius Fairbanks
Julius Fairbanks 11 years ago

very cool pics

Susi T-B
Susi T-B 11 years ago

Gorgeous!

Gerardo Aizpuru
Gerardo Aizpuru 11 years ago

Thanks Toucan :)

Toucan
Toucan 11 years ago

Cool spotting and great pictures =)

Gerardo Aizpuru
Gerardo Aizpuru 11 years ago

Thanks TjTodd :)

TjTodd
TjTodd 11 years ago

Very cool!!!

Gerardo Aizpuru
Gerardo Aizpuru 11 years ago

Thanks Leanne, Karen Chun, Seema and Braulio :)

LeanneGardner
LeanneGardner 11 years ago

Incredible find Gerardo!

ChunXingWong
ChunXingWong 11 years ago

At first I thought it was some type of unusual snowflakes.

KarenL
KarenL 11 years ago

Wow! Awesome spot Gerardo!

Seema
Seema 11 years ago

very interesting

Braulio Rivas Tapia
Braulio Rivas Tapia 11 years ago

Awesome!
U should put it on the mission: Signs of Wildlife!

Gerardo Aizpuru
Gerardo Aizpuru 11 years ago

Thanks Mauna :)

mauna Kunzah
mauna Kunzah 11 years ago

Hey, add it to this mission!

http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/9071...

YukoChartraw
YukoChartraw 11 years ago

I was curious what Honeycomb Cowfish look like, so I google-imaged it and it looks AMAZING! It sure is beautiful inside AND outside!

Gerardo Aizpuru
Gerardo Aizpuru 11 years ago

Thanks so much Yuko :)

YukoChartraw
YukoChartraw 11 years ago

What is incredible about this (to me at least) is that these perfect hexagons are in the irregular shape such as fish! It's mind-blowing to me. Nature is perfect!

YukoChartraw
YukoChartraw 11 years ago

OMG the words can't describe how incredible this is! I'm awestruck! I'm so glad you found this and shared with us. Such an amazing spot!

Gerardo Aizpuru
Gerardo Aizpuru 11 years ago

Thanks Krystal and Carol :)

Gerardo Aizpuru
Spotted by
Gerardo Aizpuru

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo, Mexico

Spotted on Jan 20, 2013
Submitted on Jan 20, 2013

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