| Family: |
Monacanthidae (Filefishes) |
| Max. size: |
20 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 3 - 50 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Atlantic: Massachusetts (USA), Bermuda, and northern Gulf of Mexico to southeastern Brazil. Eastern Atlantic: São Tomé, Gulf of Guinea (Ref. 3592). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 2-2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 33-36; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 29-32. First dorsal spine originating over center or front part of eye and followed by a deep groove into which the spine can fold; body with small scattered orange spots, many of which have brown centers, and whitish spots of same size; dull yellow lines on head which run towards snout, those near eye alternating with bluish lines (Ref. 13442). |
| Biology: |
Found in shallow water and around coral and rocky reefs (Ref. 3790). Usually remains near the bottom, hiding among gorgonians and branching coral (Ref. 9710). Feeds on bottom growth, primarily sponge and algae, but stomach often contain tunicates, bryozoans and other sessile benthic invertebrates (Ref. 5521). The young are pelagic and highly important food items in the diet of large predaceous fishes such as tunas and billfishes (Ref. 3790). Generally considered as trash fish, rarely consumed (Ref. 3790). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 27 February 2014 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
reports of ciguatera poisoning |
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