Orangespotted filefish (Cantherhines pullus)
Key facts
- Scientific name
- Cantherhines pullus
- Common name
- Orangespotted filefish
- Category
- Fish
- Family
- Monacanthidae
- Genus
- Cantherhines
- Size
- 12–20 cm
- Depth
- 2–50 m
- IUCN status
- Least concern (LC)
- Danger level
- Harmless
- Habitats
- coral-reef, seagrass
- Behaviours
- solitary, pair
- Ocean zones
- Caribbean, Eastern Pacific
Description
Cantherhines pullus reaches 20 cm. Small filefish with brown-green body spotted with irregular yellow patterns with two distinctive white spots at tail base. Thin first dorsal spine. Lives from 2 to 50 m on coral reefs and seagrass of Caribbean and tropical western Atlantic. Often in pair on coralligenous. Predator of invertebrates. Accessible and discreet macro photo subject for coral dives.
Photo of Orangespotted filefish
Frequently asked questions
- How big is the Orangespotted filefish?
- Orangespotted filefish (Cantherhines pullus) reaches 12–20 cm in length.
- At what depth can you find the Orangespotted filefish?
- Orangespotted filefish is found between 2–50 m deep.
- Is the Orangespotted filefish dangerous to divers?
- Danger level: Harmless.
- What is the conservation status of the Orangespotted filefish?
- IUCN status: Least concern (LC).
- Where can you find the Orangespotted filefish?
- Found in: Caribbean, Eastern Pacific.
Other species in the genus Cantherhines
- Cantherhines macrocerus - Whitespotted filefish
- Cantherhines sandwichiensis - Sandwich Islands filefish
Other species in the family Monacanthidae
Sources
- Taxonomy: WoRMS (AphiaID 159493)
- Photos: iNaturalist (CC BY-NC)
- Distribution: GBIF (taxonKey 2406961)
- Conservation: IUCN Red List
- Encyclopedia: Wikipedia