Blacksaddle Filefish (species: Paraluteres prionurus) in Lizard Island Field Guide (Lizard Island Field Guide)
Paraluteres prionurus
Blacksaddle Filefish


©Cassy Thompson: Paraluteres prionurus at Lizard Island. Note long base of dorsal fin.

©Lyle Vail: Paraluteres prionurus at the base of the exposed reef slope between Bird and South Islands, Lizard Island Group. Note the long base of the dorsal fin, especially visible on the lower individual.

©Rick Stuart-Smith: Juvenile Paraluteres prionurus, Lizard Island area.
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Actinopterygii
Order Tetraodontiformes
Family Monacanthidae
Genus Paraluteres
Species Paraluteres prionurus

Colours

              

Distinguishing features

White with brown spots and four dark bars, the middle two extending to the lower sides. Dorsal fin has very long base, extending from mid-back to tail peduncle.

Size

  • Up to 10 cm (Length)

Depth range

  • Depth range data is not yet available.

Synonyms

Similar taxa

Interesting facts

  • This species mimics the toxic Blacksaddle Toby, Canthigaster valentini

Distribution


©Atlas of Living Australia: Australian distribution

Local abundance

Web resources

References

  • Caley, M.J. (1995). Reef fish community structure and dynamics: in interaction between local and larger-scale processes? Marine Ecology Progress Series, 129: 19-29. LIRS catalog number 448.
  • Caley, M.J. and D. Schluter (2003). Predators favour mimicry in a tropical reef fish, Proceedings of the Royal Society, London, B, 270: 667-672. LIRS catalog number 813.
  • Cheney, K.L. and N.J. Marshall (2009). Mimicry in coral reef fish: how accurate is this deception in terms of color and luminance? Behavioral Ecology, 20: 459-477. LIRS catalog number 1249.
  • View all references