Teleostei (teleosts) >
Tetraodontiformes (Puffers and filefishes) >
Monacanthidae (Filefishes)
Etymology: venusta: Name meaning 'beautiful', referring to its vivid coloration.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 20 - ? m (Ref. 9002). Subtropical
Indo-West Pacific: widespread in southern Australia.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 21.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9002)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal soft rays (total): 34; Anal soft rays: 31 - 32; Vertebrae: 20. Diagnosis: Head relatively acute, with upper profile of snout concave. First dorsal spine armed with small barbs, originating over posterior half of eye. Scales on body small, each armed with 1 strong central spinule capped with a fleshy papilla, giving the skin a coarse feel. Caudal peduncle unarmed. Color pattern consists of 4-5 brown longitudinal body stripes on a white background, 2 of which continue anteriorly on head and posteriorly on upper and lower rays of caudal fin (Re. 35708).
Body shape (shape guide): short and / or deep.
Found mostly in deep coastal reefs, in sponge areas (Ref. 9002). Young are mainly found with kelp (Ref. 9002).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Kuiter, R.H., 1993. Coastal fishes of south-eastern Australia. University of Hawaii Press. Honolulu, Hawaii. 437 p. (Ref. 9002)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources
