Teleostei (teleosts) >
Tetraodontiformes (Puffers and filefishes) >
Monacanthidae (Filefishes)
Etymology: excelsus: Name meaning 'elevated', referring to it prominently elevated dorsal and ventral profiles.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 8 - 25 m (Ref. 90102). Tropical
Western Pacific: northern Australia to southern Japan.
Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?, range 2 - ? cm
Max length : 2.5 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 2334)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 22 - 24; Anal soft rays: 20 - 22; Vertebrae: 20. Diagnosis: Extremely small size at maturity (1.5 cm SL). Prominently elevated dorsal and ventral profiles. Extremely long bristles on caudal peduncle of male, projecting posteriorly to behind middle of caudal fin. Low fin ray counts (D.22 to 24; A.20 to 22; P.10) (Ref. 35708).
Inhabits sheltered coastal habitats, usually in areas with mixed low reef and sparse seagrass (Ref. 48637).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Randall, J.E., G.R. Allen and R.C. Steene, 1990. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii. 506 p. (Ref. 2334)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 25.2 - 29.3, mean 28.6 °C (based on 1897 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.6250 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01995 (0.00956 - 0.04164), b=2.93 (2.76 - 3.10), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.0 ±0.4 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).