Description
Also known as American White-spotted Filefish, Leatherjacket, Orange Filefish, White-spotted Leatherjacket.
Found in pairs, amongst gorgonians, over rocky bottoms, of coral reefs.
They feed on algae, gorgonians, hydroids, and sponges.
Length - 46cm
Depth - 2-40m
Widespread Eastern Atlantic, Western Atlantic, Caribbean
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/4277
2 comments
Yes this is a warning to keep away! As with the triggerfish particularly the Titan Triggerfish when these are nesting they warn you with their trigger then spine that pops up to keep away and woe betide a diver that doesn't as they will come at speed and try to take a chunk out of you! Filefish aren't so aggressive though!
10 yr. volunteer at South Fl. Costal /marine Science Center with emphasis on costal environmental education, research, conservation, sea turtle rehab. facilitly and an afilated university lab on location (gumbolijmbo.org). We recently got a Scrawled Filefish exhibiting a strange behavior. With a adult/sub adult porkfish near the Filefish, a thin type dorsal fin pops out from the head of Filefish when Porkfish is around. Is this a defense mechanism or warning sign of some sort? does anybody know of this?