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Tetrosomus gibbosus, the humpback turretfish, is native to Indo-Pacific waters, including the South China Sea, the Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf. It is one of 22 species in the Ostraciidae or boxfish family. Other common names include the camel cowfish, helmet cowfish, or thornbacked boxfish. This species is most closely related to Tetrosomus reipublicae, the smallspine turretfish.

Description
T. gibbosus is normally around 20 cm (7.9 in) long when it is fully grown, but can reach up to 30 cm (11.8 in) in length. Fish in the Tetrosomus family are characterized by the presence of a carapace, a hard upper shell formed by thick scale plates. The body is completely encased in this bony shell, except for small openings such as the mouth, eyes, and gills. The mouth is small with fleshy lips and conical teeth normally numbering less than 15.

Biology
T. gibbosus has poisonous flesh, organs, and spines, and is known to secret poisonous mucus in defense or when it is disturbed. This poison can be fatal to humans or other marine organisms that come into contact it. T. gibbosus is hermaphroditic; all individuals of this species are born female, but some may change into males as they grow. Juveniles live together in small schools, but individuals become solitary when they are adults. T. gibbosus is an omnivorous species. Its diet is known to include seaweeds, sponges, molluscs, worms, and crustaceans found on the bottom of its habitat.

Distribution and habitat
T. gibbosus lives in shallow tropical waters or warm seas with muddy bottoms, at depths of 37-110 meters (121-361 feet). It is a coastal species, frequently found in coral reefs. It does not live in pelagic waters, and cannot swim long distances. Its conservation status is not of concern in any area except for the South China Sea, where it is considered an endangered species.

Lessepsian migration
A Lessepsian migration refers to the migration of a marine species from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea, facilitated by the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. A species is considered Lessepsian when it has completed this migration and established a population. T. gibbosus was first found in the Mediterranean Sea in 1988. Both of these bodies of water have similar salinity levels and temperature ranges, which allows for an easier transition between the Red Sea and the Mediterranean Sea. It is thought that Lessepsian species migrated due to changing climates, since the geographic land barrier was removed when the Suez Canal was completed. T. gibbosus is now considered an invasive species in the Mediterranean Sea, as this is not included in its native distribution. It is also considered an established species because it has established a growing population and has been found in multiple locations. It is the first species from the Ostraciidae family to be found in the Mediterranean Sea. Due to its inability to swim long distances, T. gibbosus likely took multiple generations to migrate from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea; this is thought to have happened, in part, from northward currents moving eggs and larvae north towards the Mediterranean Sea.