Whitespotted Boxfish

Seen in Dauin, Oct 5, 2012.
This particular species has a definite difference between male and female. The Male is known as the Blue Boxfish and is attractively marked with rust colored spots on a bright blue body. The female, is more subdued but still striking with it’s white spots and black body coloration. Boxfish secrete poison from their skin when they are in danger or stressed. Many reef predators will take one taste and spit them out. This makes it difficult to keep boxfish in a home aquarium. They may end up poisoning other fish and even themselves.
Habitat:

Indo-Pacific and Eastern Pacific: East Africa to the Mexico, north to southern Japan and the Hawaiian Islands, south to New Caledonia and the Tuamoto Islands. Depth range 1 - 30 m. Inhabits clear lagoon and seaward reefs from the lower surge zone to at least 30 meters. Juveniles among rocky boulders, often with long spined urchins, and adults on reef crests and slopes. Males swim about more openly than females that are often in close vicinity to the males. Solitary. Feeds on didemnid tunicates, polychaetes, sponges, mollusks, copepods, and algae.