Ryan Photographic - Monacanthidae - Filefishes & Leatherjackets
Family Monacanthidae |
Fishbase lists 107 species of monacanthids in 28 genera. They inhabit the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, some species being found in temperate regions. Australia hosts 58 species in 23 genera. They are closely related to the triggerfishes. Like the triggerfishes many filefish can lock their first dorsal spine in place using the much smaller second dorsal spine. Some filefish are capable of stunningly fast color change. The photos of Paramonacanthus curtorhynchos the Shortsnout filefish were taken within seconds of each other. At one moment I was looking at a dead leaf - in the next I was watching a green filefish swim away at passes for high speed amongst filefish. For more information than I have presented here see the excellent Wikipedia article.
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Acreichthys radiatus Radial filefish |
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FISH 5586 Acreichthys radiatus Radial filefish Puerto Galera, Philippines. |
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FISH 5589 Acreichthys radiatus Radial filefish Puerto Galera, Philippines. The stunning crypsis doesn't work so well when it moves away from the soft coral in the previous photo above. |
Acreichthys tomentosus Bristle-tailed filefish |
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FISH 6151 Acreichthys tomentosus Bristle-tailed filefish, Lembeh Strait |
Aluterus scriptus Scrawled filefish |
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Aluterus scriptus Scrawled filefish, Fiji |
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FISH 0536 Aluterus scriptus Scrawled filefish detail, Kri Eco, Raja Ampat, West Papua |
Cantherhines dumerilii Barred or vagabond filefish |
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FISH 1759 Cantherhines dumerilii, Barred or vagabond filefish, Roca Partida, Revillagigedo Islands |
Cantherhines macrocerus Whitespotted filefish |
Cantherhines macrocerus Whitespotted filefish, Glover's Reef, Belize |
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Cantherhines macrocerus Whitespotted filefish 2, Glover's Reef, Belize |
Cantherhines pardalis Wirenet filefish |
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FISH 5085 Cantherhines pardalis Wirenet filefish Puerto Galera, Philippines. |
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Chaetodermis pencilligera Leafy filefish, captive specimen
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FISH 6497 Chaetodermis pencilligera?, Leafy filefish, Lembeh Strait |
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FISH 6497 Chaetodermis pencilligera?, Leafy filefish, Lembeh Strait |
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FISH 6498 Chaetodermis pencilligera? Leafy filefish, Lembeh Strait |
Monacanthus tuckeri Slender filefish |
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FISH 3240 Monacanthus tuckeri, Slender filefish, Roatan |
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FISH 3270 Monacanthus tuckeri, Slender filefish, Roatan |
Oxymonacanthus longirostris Longnose filefish |
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FISH 8833 Oxymonacanthus longirostris, Flare Point, Great Barrier Reef. |
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FISH 8831 Oxymonacanthus longirostris, longnose filefish, Flare Reef, Great Barrier Reef |
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Oxymonacanthus longirostris Longnose filefish photographed in Matamanoa, Fiji |
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Paraluteres prionurus Mimic filefish, Kadavu, Fiji. The puffer it mimics can be seen here. |
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FISH 8618 Paraluteres prionurus, Mimic filefish, Steve's Bommie, Great Barrier Reef |
Paramonacanthus curtorhynchos Shortsnout filefish |
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FISH 5247 Paramonacanthus curtorhynchos Shortsnout filefish male masquerading as dead leaf Puerto Galera, Philippines |
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FISH 5252 Paramonacanthus curtorhynchos Shortsnout filefish. Same fish as above ten seconds later. |
Pervagor aspricaudus Orangetail filefish |
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FISH 4587 Pervagor aspricaudus Orangetail filefish, Puerto Galera, Philippines. |
Pseudomonacanthus macrurus? Strapweed filefish |
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FISH 9808 Pseudomonacanthus macrurus? Strapweed filefish Night time Raja Ampat |
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