When it comes to selecting the cutest fish on the planet, there are many contenders. You might consider the usual suspects like clownfish, seahorses or rainbow parrotfish. However, you shouldn’t overlook this hidden gem: the yellow boxfish (Ostracion cubicum). With its adorable appearance that once served as inspiration for a car design (yes, really!), these fish offer more than meets the eye. Let’s delve into the world of the cute, agile and sometimes dangerous yellow boxfish.

The yellow boxfish certainly knows how to stand out in a crowd. It sports a bright yellow color and distinct black spots that serve as warnings to predators. Young boxfish display a more vibrant yellow and larger black spots, but their color fades, and their spots become less distinct as they age. Yellow boxfish typically grow to be 15-18 inches in adulthood.

In addition to its color, the yellow boxfish lives up to its name in another way—it has rough, bony plates that encase its body in a box-like structure called a carapace. The carapace acts as armor and protects it from predators. The carapace is inflexible, and therefore the boxfish relies almost solely on its fins to swim. In theory, this rigid structure should make it difficult for the species to get around. However, the yellow boxfish gracefully navigates coral reefs with ease. Some researchers believe that its tailfin plays a crucial role in its surprising agility.

In addition to being sneakily nimble, the yellow boxfish has another surprise: when threatened, it can release a toxin from its skin that is potentially lethal to nearby fish. While this might not add to its “cuteness” factor, it certainly helps keep predators at bay.

The yellow boxfish is a mostly solitary species found in temperate waters across the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans, as well as the Mediterranean Sea. They prefer depths of one to 40 meters and dwell in habitats like coral and rocky reefs. Their diet consists of marine algae, worms, sponges, crustaceans, mollusks and small fish.

The yellow boxfish relies on our ocean’s precious ecosystems for its survival. Unfortunately, the yellow boxfish and countless marine species face urgent threats, from plastic pollution to rising ocean temperatures and climate change.That’s why Ocean Conservancy is leading the charge to protect our ocean, its wildlife, and the communities that depend on it for years to come. Take action and support the fight for our ocean today.