Whitespotted filefish (Cantherhines macrocerus)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Cantherhines macrocerus
- Common name
- Whitespotted filefish
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Monacanthidae
- Genus
- Cantherhines
- Size
- 25–46 cm
- Depth
- 5–25 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- coral-reef
- Behaviours
- solitary, pair
- Ocean zones
- Caribbean, Macaronesia, Eastern Pacific
Description
Cantherhines macrocerus reaches 46 cm. Filefish with brown-orange to dark-brown body spotted with numerous small white spots, two distinctive large white spots on caudal peduncle, black tail. Male with very prominent long dorsal spine (hence macrocerus, long horn). Lives in pairs or solitary from 5 to 25 m on coral reefs of Caribbean and tropical western Atlantic. Appreciated photo subject for its dotted patterns and pair physiognomy.
Photo of Whitespotted filefish
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Whitespotted filefish?
- Whitespotted filefish (Cantherhines macrocerus) reaches 25–46 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Whitespotted filefish?
- Whitespotted filefish is found between 5–25 m deep.
- Is the Whitespotted filefish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Whitespotted filefish?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Whitespotted filefish?
- Found in: Caribbean, Macaronesia, Eastern Pacific.
Other species in the genus Cantherhines
Other species in the family Monacanthidae
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 276250)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2406957)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia