| Family: |
Monacanthidae (Filefishes) |
| Max. size: |
7 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 2 - 12 m |
| Distribution: |
Indo-West Pacific: Indonesia to Papua New Guinea, north to southern Japan. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 2-2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 26-29; Anal soft rays: 25-27. Description: Characterized by having oblique white and brown bands radiating from eye on head and adjacent anterior body; brown and white bars and broken lines on body; rudiment pelvic fin and robust dorsal fin spine, with relatively large prominent barbs; first dorsal fin with short skin-flaps; scattered skin flaps on body; rounded caudal fin; caudal peduncle depth almost equal to caudal peduncle length; side of caudal peduncle of male with well-defined, oblong patch of bristles (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Found among soft corals (Ref. 9710, 48637). Extremely well camouflaged when among the corals. Observed picking on the coral polyps and the coral tissue may be an important part of their diet (Ref. 48637). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 02 March 2015 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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