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Filefish
or Leatherjacket
Family Monacanthidae |
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Fan-bellied
filefish
Monacanthus chinensis
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These
strange-looking fishes are quite common in the seagrass lagoon and
coral rubble area. They can be quite large but are hard to spot as
they blend in well with their surroundings. The seagrass lagoon also
has lots of tiny filefishes hardly bigger than a seagrass leaf. They
are often the same colour as the seagrasses!
Slow and steady: The Filefish
or Leatherjacket is not designed for fast swimming, aside from a short
burst of speed to escape predators. Instead, it relies on camouflage.
It can change its colours to match its surroundings. It has a flattened
body to slip quietly among seagrass, hide in crevices or flatten out
against some coral rubble. The large dorsal spine can be locked upright
to wedge in crevices, safe from predators and from being swept away
by currents. Its skin tends to be leathery and rough like sandpaper.
Some have hairy bits sticking out of their skin that help break up
their body outline.
Filefish food: The Filefish eats
small bottom-dwelling animals like small prawns. It also nibbles on
seaweed, seagrass and immobile animals like bryozoans and ascidians.
It has a pointed mouth adapted for nibbling and sucking small prey
out of their hiding places.
Filefish Babies: Many filefishes
lay eggs onto a site prepared and guarded by the male or both parents.
Some may release their eggs into open waters.
Human uses: Filefishes are edible
and eaten in some traditional dishes. The skin has to be 'peeled'
off first. |
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Filefishes
can
change their colours!
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quick
facts
Adults 10-30cm, common in the seagrass lagoon and coral rubble
area |
