The Cowfish

The Longhorn cowfish is one of the strangest-looking fish ever to swim in an aquarium. It's actually not well-suited to life in captivity, thanks to its ability to release ostracitoxin when stressed. This can have bad effects on a tank's other inhabitants. However, the Longhorn cowfish's odd appearance has made it quite popular with saltwater fish keepers. It is a type of boxfish, a group of fish that is related to the more widely recognized Pufferfish family. Most fish stick to the standard, streamlined shape, but all cowfish have a blocky, boxy shape that makes this group unique and easily recognized. The Longhorn cowfish's standard color is yellow ranging to olive with white or blue-white spots, but other morphs exist with orange or green coloration. The fish's defining feature is the set of horns that protrude from the head; they're much longer than the horns of any other cowfish.