Occurs in shallow water down to 50 m depth, over sandy and rocky bottoms, but more commonly in grass beds . Often seen moving head down among seagrass blades . The young are often associated with floating Sargassum . Feeds on plants and algae, and also on small crustaceans . Rarely consumed .
Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 29 - 37; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 28 - 36. Snout prominently projecting but not very elongate; first dorsal spine originating above posterior part of eye; adult males with two pairs of enlarged recurved spines on each side of caudal peduncle; spines of females only slightly larger than other scale spinules of caudal peduncle .: short and / or deep.
Behavioural data for Fringed filefish is currently being reviewed.
Diet information for Fringed filefish is currently being compiled.
Distinct pairing .
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 50 m . Subtropical; 52°N - 34°S, 98°W - 34°W foundland (Canada), Bermuda, and northern Gulf of Mexico to Argentina, including the Caribbean (Ref.
plants and algae, and also on small crustaceans (Ref
| Language | Common Names |
|---|---|
| 🇬🇧English | Bastard Old Wife · Fringed Filefish |
| 🏳️Catalan | Peix llima críptic |
| 🌍CES | jednotrn běloskvrnný |
| 🇫🇷French | Bourse émeri · lime frangée |
| 🇯🇵Japanese | ウチワハギ |
| 🇵🇹Portuguese | Cangulo-unicórnio · Peixe-porco · Peixe-porco-de-erva-marinha |
| 🇪🇸Spanish | lija de clavo · sobaco común |
| Scientific Name | Author | Year | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Balistes ciliatus | Mitchill | 1818 | Synonym |
| Monacanthus davidsonii | Cope | 1871 | Synonym |
| Monacanthus occidentalis | Günther | 1870 | Synonym |
| Monacanthus piraaca | Kner | 1867 | Synonym |
| Monocanthus ciliatus | Mitchill | 1818 | Synonym |
Occurrence records from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) - 124 records indexed .
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