The Top Scrawled Cowfish (Acanthostracion quadricornis) is a distinctive, box-shaped marine fish recognized by its vibrant blue and yellow scrawled patterns and horn-like projections above its eyes. Native to the western Atlantic, including the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, the scrawled cowfish inhabits coral reefs and seagrass beds. While not a major target of large-scale commercial fisheries, it is occasionally caught as bycatch or for local consumption in countries such as the Bahamas, Cuba, and other Caribbean nations. In these regions, artisanal fishers may harvest scrawled cowfish for local markets or subsistence, but the species is generally of minor economic importance compared to other reef fish. Its unique appearance also makes it a minor attraction in the ornamental fish trade, primarily exported from Caribbean countries to supply the global aquarium market.
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Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.