Boxfish devoured by swarm of Lutjanus bohar snappers | Palau

After engaging in an enormous spawning aggregation in the early morning, thousands of Lutjanus bohar red snappers lingered on near a reef edge. A swarm of the snappers, comprising a couple dozen fish, attacked and devoured a boxfish, the remains of which are shown here, with the main school of snappers visible in the background. I was unable to identify the species of the boxfish before it was attacked, but based on the yellow pattern, I am guessing that it was a yellow boxfish, Ostracion cubicus.

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Filename: ostracion-cubicus-boxfish-devoured-by-lutjanus-bohar-snapper-swarm-palau-201211-2132.tif
Copyright: Copyright Tony Wu. All rights reserved. No duplication in any form without prior written consent.
Image Size: 4593x3062 / 40.5MB; https://www.photoshelter.com/support/license#rm; https://www.tony-wu.com/contact-tony-wu; Bony Fish Snapper Animalia Chordata Osteichthyes Actinopterygii Perciformes Lutjanidae Lutjanus bohar Bohar Snapper Red Bass Red Snapper Twinspot Snapper Two-spot Red Snapper Reproduction Spawning Schooling Predation Hunting Feeding Boxfish Tetraodontiformes Ostraciidae Ostracion cubicus Yellow Boxfish Pacific Philippine Sea Caroline Islands Palau
Contained in galleries: Marine Life | Palau, Marine Life Reproduction, Palau, Fish Photos

After engaging in an enormous spawning aggregation in the early morning, thousands of Lutjanus bohar red snappers lingered on near a reef edge. A swarm of the snappers, comprising a couple dozen fish, attacked and devoured a boxfish, the remains of which are shown here, with the main school of snappers visible in the background. I was unable to identify the species of the boxfish before it was attacked, but based on the yellow pattern, I am guessing that it was a yellow boxfish, Ostracion cubicus.