View source for Biology:Cantherhines macrocerus

{{Short description|Species of fish}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = American whitespotted filefish.jpg
| image_alt = 
| image_caption = American whitespotted filefish, ''Cantherhines macrocerus''
| status = LC 
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref>{{cite iucn |author=Carpenter, K.E |author2=Robertson, R. |author3=Tyler, J. |title=''Cantherhines macrocerus'' |volume=2015 |page=e.T16430203A16510357 |year=2015 }}</ref>
| genus = Cantherhines
| species = macrocerus
| authority = (Hollard, 1853)
| synonyms = 
| synonyms_ref = 
}}

'''''Cantherhines macrocerus''''', commonly known as the '''whitespotted filefish''', '''American whitespotted filefish''', or '''whitespotted limefish''', is a marine fish found along the coast of Florida extending southward into the Caribbean. This species is distinct and separate from ''[[Biology:Cantherhines dumerilii|Cantherhines dumerilii]]'', the similarly named whitespotted filefish which is found in the [[Earth:Indian Ocean|Indian]] and [[Earth:Pacific Ocean|Pacific oceans]].

== Description ==
[[Image:Gaudy Filefish (181549127).jpg|left|thumb|250px|American whitespotted filefish (''Cantherhines macrocerus'')]]
[[Image:Whitespotted filefish Cantherhines macrocerus (4683410915).jpg|left|thumb|250px|American whitespotted filefish (''Cantherhines macrocerus'')]]

The American whitespotted filefish typically has a brown or olive colored body, although it may also be grey.  These fish can rapidly change appearance to a high contrast color pattern with a much darker background and many light colored spots<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://scuba.about.com/od/marinelife/ss/Reef-Fish-Identification-Guide-20-Common-Species-Of-Florida-And-The-Caribbean_17.htm|title=What Types of Reef Fish Are Found in Florida and the Caribbean?|access-date=2014-07-21|archive-date=2014-07-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140710141115/http://scuba.about.com/od/marinelife/ss/Reef-Fish-Identification-Guide-20-Common-Species-Of-Florida-And-The-Caribbean_17.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref> With a maximum length of around 18 inches, they are smaller than the scrawled filefish which is also found in their range.  The American whitespotted filefish is often seen in pairs.

== Diet ==
These fish are omnivorous; although they eat animals like sponges, stinging coral<!-- what stinging coral? --> and [[Biology:Gorgonian|gorgonian]]s, and algae.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://species-identification.org/species.php?species_group=caribbean_diving_guide&id=181|title=Marine Species Identification Portal : Whitespotted filefish - Cantherhines macrocerus|publisher=|accessdate=8 September 2014}}</ref>

== As aquarium fish ==
The American whitespotted filefish can be kept in large aquariums.  These fish are non-aggressive, need plenty of places to hide, and will eat [[Biology:Brine shrimp|brine shrimp]], [[Biology:Krill|krill]] and [[Biology:Algae|algae]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saltytank.com/fishdb/index.php?ID=444|title=SaltyTank - White Spotted Filefish, Cantherhines macrocerus Profile, facts & care information|publisher=|accessdate=8 September 2014}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{Cite web|url=http://reefguide.org/whitespottedfile.html|title=Whitespotted Filefish - Cantherhines macrocerus - Filefishes - - Tropical Reefs}} - ReefGuide's whitespotted filefish photos showing animals with and without spots
* {{Cite web|url=http://species-identification.org/species.php?species_group=caribbean_diving_guide&id=181|title = Marine Species Identification Portal : Whitespotted filefish - Cantherhines macrocerus}}
* {{sealifephotos|276250}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q304407}}

[[Category:Monacanthidae]]

{{Sourceattribution|Cantherhines macrocerus}}