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Paramonacanthus arabicus Hutchins, 1997 Gulf filefish |
| Family: | Monacanthidae (Filefishes) | |||
| Max. size: | 7.4 cm SL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | demersal; marine; depth range 1 - 35 m | |||
| Distribution: | Western Indian Ocean: known only from the Persian Gulf. | |||
| Diagnosis: | Dorsal spines (total): 2-2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 26-30; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 27-30; Vertebrae: 19-19. Scales on midside of body each with single relatively large, prominently branched spinule (except in some slender males); dorsal profile of snout convex to slightly concave, without prominent hump just anterior to eye; second uppermost caudal fin ray of male elongate and filamentous; dark blotch on side of body below anterior half of soft dorsal fin usually bisected by narrow longitudinal pale line. | |||
| Biology: | Taken by otter trawling to depths of 35 m and also by beach seine and chemical ichthyocides at shallow waters; on rock and sandy bottoms (Ref. 33065). | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 24 February 2014 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||