Unicorn filefish (Aluterus monoceros)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Aluterus monoceros
- Common name
- Unicorn filefish
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Monacanthidae
- Genus
- Aluterus
- Size
- 30–76 cm
- Depth
- 5–110 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- open-water, coral-reef
- Behaviours
- solitary, schooling
- Ocean zones
- Asian Pacific, Caribbean, East Atlantic, Indian Ocean & Red Sea, Eastern Pacific
Description
Aluterus monoceros reaches 76 cm. Filefish with elongated body uniformly gray-beige to olive with single extensible long dorsal spine (hence monoceros, one horn). Without distinct patterns unlike A. scriptus. Lives in open water and on coral reefs from 5 to 110 m circumtropical (Caribbean, tropical Atlantic, Indo-Pacific). Solitary or small groups. Predator of invertebrates. Discreet but recognizable photo subject by its extra-elongated silhouette.
Photo of Unicorn filefish
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Unicorn filefish?
- Unicorn filefish (Aluterus monoceros) reaches 30–76 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Unicorn filefish?
- Unicorn filefish is found between 5–110 m deep.
- Is the Unicorn filefish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Unicorn filefish?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Unicorn filefish?
- Found in: Asian Pacific, Caribbean, East Atlantic, Indian Ocean & Red Sea, Eastern Pacific.
Other species in the genus Aluterus
Other species in the family Monacanthidae
- Cantherhines pullus - Orangespotted filefish
- Cantherhines macrocerus - Whitespotted filefish
- Cantherhines sandwichiensis - Sandwich Islands filefish
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 127407)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2406708)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia