Stephanolepis hispida (Linnaeus, 1766)
Planehead filefish
photo by Cox, C.D.

Family:  Monacanthidae (Filefishes)
Max. size:  36.9 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 364.2 g
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 0 - 293 m
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: Nova Scotia, Canada south along the U.S., Bermuda, the Bahamas, throughout the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, and along South America to Uruguay (Ref. 114078). Eastern Atlantic: Canary Islands, Morocco to Angola (Ref. 109259) including Madeira (Ref. 3592).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 2-2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 29-35; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 30-35
Biology:  Found on sand or mud bottoms. Associated with Sargassum (Ref. 26340). Adults feed on benthic invertebrates (Ref. 5377). Edible but generally rejected by fishers (Ref. 5377).
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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