Greater Soapfish

Rypticus saponaceus

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

ALSO KNOWN AS

Atlantic Soapfish
Black Soapfish
Lathercoat
Latherjacket
Northern Soapfish
Soapfish
Soapy Jack
Three-spined Soapfish

LCLeast ConcernIUCN Red List, 2015

Add a photo

Greater Soapfish adult, photographed at Sand Dollar Inn, Caribbean Netherlands — @tbonediver · Sand Dollar Inn, Caribbean Netherlands · August 20141 / 8

Overview

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.

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.

How to identify

COLOURS

Pattern: speckles spots stripes white stripes
Behaviour: bottom dwelling nocturnal solitary

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

Habitat & where to find it

Range · Western Atlantic, Caribbean, Eastern Atlantic
Country only · 8

LIVES IN

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.

RANGE