18/06/2026
What’s that? 👀
A spotted trunkfish!
One of our local favorites spotted today on the reef
Tap below for fun facts 👇👇
1. They wear natural body armor
Their triangular, box-like shell is made of fused hexagonal plates called scutes. Because of this built-in armor, their bodies cannot bend. They swim slowly by rippling their small fins, giving them the appearance of an underwater flying saucer or helicopter.
2. Creative Hunting Tactics
They are omnivores that love to root around the ocean floor. To find hidden crabs, mollusks, and sea urchins, they will blow powerful jets of water into the sand to uncover their prey.
3. Cute… but don’t touch
If stressed or touched, the spotted trunkfish secretes a colorless toxin from its skin. Though harmless to divers, the poison is lethal if ingested by other marine life, making even a hungry nurse shark think twice before taking a bite. It’s one of the many reasons we admire reef life without touching it.
4. Look for the spots
While their bodies are generally white or yellow with numerous black spots, adults have an easy-to-spot identifying feature: a neat diagonal row of three bright white spots right behind their eyes, a cute little ID clue once you know what to look for.
Spotted in Rincón, Puerto Rico 🤿
