Biology:Aluterus schoepfii
| Orange filefish | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Tetraodontiformes |
| Family: | Monacanthidae |
| Genus: | Aluterus |
| Species: | A. schoepfii
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| Binomial name | |
| Aluterus schoepfii (Walbaum, 1792)
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Aluterus schoepfii, the orange filefish, is a species of fish in the family Monacanthidae. The species can also be listed under the family Balistidae. They can reach a maximum size of 62 centimetres (24 in) although they are common to 40 centimetres (16 in).[2]
Characteristics
Orange filefish can be distinguished by the presence of 2 dorsal spines and 32-29 dorsal soft rays. They do not have anal spines but have 35–41 anal soft rays. The pelvic terminus is absent, the body has numerous small round orange or orange-yellow spots, and the lips are often blackish.[3]
Distribution
Orange filefish are distributed along the Western Atlantic. This includes Nova Scotia, Bermuda, and the northern Gulf of Mexico to Brazil . Distributions along the Eastern Atlantic include Cape Blanc and Mauritania to Angola.[3]
Environment
Orange filefish are benthic fish distributed in a depth range of 3 to 900 metres (10 to 2,953 ft). They are subtropical, found between 46°N and 33°S latitudes.[3] [4]
Habitat
These fish are usually found solitary or in pairs over sea bottoms with sea grass, sand, or mud. Juveniles can be found associated with floating Sargassum.[3]
Feeding
Orange filefish feed on a variety of aquatic vegetation, including sea grasses and algae.[3]
Importance to humans
Orange filefish are considered trash fish and rarely consumed by humans. In Brazil these fish are traded as aquarium fish. These fish contain a poison (ciguatoxin) in their flesh, which may cause ciguatera poisoning if eaten.[3]
Similar species
The dotterel filefish is similar to the orange filefish, although the dotterel filefish has a longer tail fin and no orange spots along the body. The orange filefish differs from other triggerfishes by having only 2 dorsal spines.[2]
References
- ↑ Matsuura, K., Robertson, R. & Tyler, J. (2015). Aluterus schoepfii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T16404974A16510262.en
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 “Orange Filefish: Aluterus schoepfii.” Texas A&M University Galveston.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Luna, Susan M. “Aluterus schoepfii.” FishBase
- ↑ Bailly, N. (2014). &id=159490 Aluterus schoepfii (Walbaum, 1792). In: Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. (2014) FishBase.
Wikidata ☰ Q2029472 entry
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