ID help - boxfish seen in Musandam, Oman

[sunshinefishy]

Hi All,

Just came back from my first dive outside of the Caribbean. Trying to ID all the new fishies that I am now seeing in the Arabian Gulf. Saw this little boxfish - does anyone know what kind of boxfish this is or even better, the species name?

Thanks in advance!

Details:
(1) Size? 3 to 4 inches
(2) Where? Musandam, Oman
(3) Habitat? Coral reef
(4) Depth found? 10 to 50 feet

 

[sunshinefishy]

Can't seem to embed photo...here is an upload instead...

 

[Rick Murchison]

Cute little rascal...
Thanks for the picture
Probably a juvenile Ostracion cyanurus. (the Arabian Boxfish or Bluetail Trunkfish.)
Rick

 

[doctordry]

That's Ostracion meleagris common name the blue boxfish.
The one you shot is a male.
The female is all black with white spots.

 

[sunshinefishy]

Thanks for looking into this for me guys!

I googled both species and based on physical id and location, I think Rick is correct that the little rascal is the Bluetail Boxfish (Ostracion cyanurus).

Ostracion meleagris has different coloring, especially on the top and is not local to the Red Sea.

 

[doctordry]

Doh,
Your right Sunshine,
Thats what I get for trying to sneak in answers while I'm supposed to be doing other things.