Animal Diversity Web

Identification

Location

Anilao, Luzon Island, Philippines

Caption

I suspect this pair of Long-Horned Cowfish are mates, since I have seen them together on numerous occasions in the same dive spot. Each one is about five inches in length. I presume they are named "cowfish" after the horns, since they don't have udders and don't "moo" (though they do grunt when held). When they're blowing into the sand looking for a meal you might say they were "grazing". Normally they avoid divers, but cowfish are fairly slow swimmers, barely able to swim faster than a diver. This was taken during a night dive when they're easier to approach.

• Subject
• Live Animal

• Type
• Photo

• Life Stages And Gender
• Adult/Sexually Mature

• Anatomy
• Coloration/Patterning :: Disruptive Coloration (Spots/Stripes)

• Anatomy
• Female

• Anatomy
• Male

• Behaviors
• Reproduction :: Mate Tending

• Anatomy
• Coloration/Patterning :: Cryptic

Contributors