Cantherhines macrocerus
Ecological Descriptors
|
Habitat |
Size (cm) |
Diet |
Behaviour |
Sex |
Dem, Co, R |
to 45 |
Veg, Spo, Gor (Tun, Bry) |
Pr |
F |
Not to be confused with a Pacific species with the same common name: Cantherhines dumerilii
N.B:
Harlequin Filefish
Long Nose Filefish
Synonyms:
White Spotted Filefish
White Spotted Filefish
White Spotted Filefish
Juvenile ?
White Spotted Filefish
Description:
Adult: Body deep and laterally flattened, with a noticeable belly appendage. Long pointed snout with a small, terminal mouth. Upper body in shades of gray to olive to brown, with brown to orange below. Dorsal and anal fins are translucent yellow, but tail is distinctively dark. Base of tail with orange spines, larger in males than in females.
There are 2 colour phases, an orange one and one with a darker background and many light colored spots. Able to change between variations upon these colour forms rapidly.
Juvenile: Black with many whitish spots.
Ecology
Found in shallow water and around coral and rocky reefs, at depths of 3 to 50m (10-160ft). Usually remains near the bottom, hiding among gorgonians and branching corals. Feeds on bottom growth, primarily sponges and algae as well as coral hydroids. The young are pelagic and form a highly important food item in the diet of larger predaceous fishes.
Life Cycle
Breed in groups of 1 male and 2-5 females. Females lay their eggs which are demersal (on the bottom of the sea). These eggs can be found in relatively safe areas such as hollows in the sand. The eggs that are fertilized will be protected by the male or
female whereby upon close approach the male and female fish will attack and when the eggs hatch the female fish will take care of the young.
165
164
177
225
White Spotted Filefish
Darker with white spots
23