WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Porky

Stephanolepis aurata

Also known as: Leatherjacket, Porky Filefish, Stephanolepis auratus

Juvenile
@BeccaEShort · Palma, Mozambique · January 20161 / 1
01

Overview

Found singly, or in pairs, over shallow rock, sand, and seagrass bottoms, of estuaries and coastal reefs.
Juveniles found over open oceans with jellyfish.

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.

02

How to identify

COLOURS
Pattern
speckles

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Western Indian Ocean
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found singly, or in pairs, over shallow rock, sand, and seagrass bottoms, of estuaries and coastal reefs.

04

Juvenile photos 1

05

Discussion

Comments are checked by a moderator before they appear.

No comments yet. Seen one, or got a question about it? Start the discussion.

    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderTetraodontiformes
    5. familyMonacanthidae
    6. genusStephanolepis
    7. speciesStephanolepis aurata (Castelnau, 1861)

    SourcesWoRMSFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Filefishes (Monacanthidae)