Description
Also known as Broom Leatherjacket, Brush-sided Leatherjacket, Leatherjacket.
Found singly or in pairs, over gutters and rubble patches, of clear, coastal and outer reefs, rich in coral growth.
They feed on coral polyps.
Length - 20cm
Depth - 3-20m
Widespread Indo-Pacific
Filefish can alter their colour and pattern to match their surrounds and so deter predators.
Although closely related to the Triggerfish, their "trigger spine" cannot be locked into place. Ref: https://www.fishbase.se/summary/6672
2 comments
Posted by @fishx6Might be this one Scrawled Filefish - Aluterus scriptus https://www.whatsthatfish.com/fish/scrawled-filefish/124
Posted by Barbara ButcherDo they come in blue with white dots? Large fish w/blue spreckled with white dots were pointed out to me as what they thought was a broom fish. I am in Hawaiʻi.