Teleostei (teleosts) >
Tetraodontiformes (Puffers and filefishes) >
Monacanthidae (Filefishes)
Etymology: Monacanthus: Greek, monos = one + Greek, akantha = thorn (Ref. 45335).
Eponymy: George Tucker (1835–1908) was Archdeacon of Bermuda (the type locality) and was honoured “…for his devotion to biological science in the colony.” (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
More on author: Bean.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 2 - 50 m (Ref. 5217). Subtropical; 37°N - 10°N
Western Atlantic: North Carolina, USA and Bermuda to Antilles. Reported from northern South America (Ref. 5217).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 10.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9710)
Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 32 - 37; Anal soft rays: 31 - 36. A small, slender filefish (body depth about 3 in SL) with a rather long, concave facial profile. Brownish gray with scattered small black spots (Ref. 26938).
Body shape (shape guide): short and / or deep.
Found over sandy and rocky bottoms (Ref. 5217). Drifts among gorgonians (Ref. 9710). Feeds on algae and invertebrates.
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Robins, C.R. and G.C. Ray, 1986. A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, U.S.A. 354 p. (Ref. 7251)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
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