Greater Soapfish (Rypticus saponaceus)

Also known as Atlantic Soapfish, Black Soapfish, Lathercoat, Latherjacket, Northern Soapfish, Soapfish, Soapy Jack, Three-spined Soapfish

Description

Also known as Atlantic Soapfish, Black Soapfish, Lathercoat, Latherjacket, Northern Soapfish, Soapfish, Soapy Jack, Three-spined Soapfish.

Found singly, during the day often sitting motionless on rocks, over shallow mixed limestone, rock and sand bottoms, dispersing at night hunting for food over coral and rocky reefs.
They feed nocturnally on crustaceans and fish.
Length - 25cm
Depth - 1-60m
Widespread Eastern Atlantic, Western Atlantic, Caribbean

Soapfish are nocturnal hunters, some are seen in the open during the day and others are more shy and stay under cover of the reef.
Juveniles mimic venomous blennies.
There name is derived from the soapy toxin in their skin that releases when stressed to deter predators. Ref: https://www.fishbase.in/summary/1056

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