| Family: |
Monacanthidae (Filefishes) |
| Max. size: |
46 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 2 - 40 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Atlantic: Florida, USA and Bermuda to São Paulo, Brazil. Eastern Atlantic: St. Paul's Rocks (Ref. 13121). |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 2-2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 34-36; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 29-32. Adults are brown, with or without many prominent white spots on body and head; caudal fin black with obscure curved median white bar and two indistinct white basal spots (Ref. 13442). Males are readily distinguished from females of about same size by the larger spines on caudal peduncle and by orange color of patch of setae anterior to the peduncular spines on males (Ref. 13442). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits coral reefs or rocky bottoms (Ref. 5217). Found among gorgonians. Occurs in pairs (Ref. 5521). Feeds mainly on sponges, gorgonians, and algae (Ref. 9710) but also eats hydroids and stinging coral (Ref. 13442). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 10 September 2014 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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