False puffer
Paraluteres prionurus
Orangespotted Filefish
Cantherhines pullus
About
The orangespotted filefish is a small, patterned reef fish that hides among corals and sea fans, growing to about 20cm, with most adults nearer 14cm.
Also known as: orange-spotted filefish, orangespotted file
- Length
- 14 cm · max 20 cm
- Depth
- 3–20 m
How to tell it apart
Several small reef fish share a similar mottled body, but the pair of white spots at the base of this filefish's tail is a reliable giveaway.
Appearance
Its head carries wavy yellowish lines that run onto the snout, mixed with bluish lines near the eyes. Broad brown bands cross its body, separated by narrow whitish-yellow bands that meet at the base of the tail. The body is speckled with small orange spots, some with brown centres, plus similar-sized white spots. There is a white spot on the base of the tail, often with a smaller one just below it. Its first dorsal spine is tall, sits above the eye, and can fold flat into a groove behind it.
Habitat
This filefish lives on rocky and coral reefs across the tropical Atlantic and Caribbean, including the Gulf of Mexico. It stays near the bottom, usually between 3 and 20m deep, hiding among tall corals and gorgonian sea fans.
Did you know?
Young orangespotted filefish drift in open water far from any reef, where they become important prey for tuna and billfish before settling down on coral as adults.
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