Yellow Boxfish

The yellow boxfish is unmistakable: a compact, cube-shaped body bright yellow or greenish-yellow, with a hard, bony plating instead of scales. A small, tubular mouth and tiny fins make it a slow, deliberate swimmer found over reefs and sandy flats in tropical Indo-Pacific waters, usually at 5–40 metres. Juveniles are often spotted cruising close to the bottom, hunting small crustaceans and other invertebrates. Handle with care—stressed boxfish release toxic compounds into the water that can kill other tank mates and irritate divers.