Fantail filefish (Pervagor spilosoma)

Scientific name: Pervagor spilosoma Lay & Bennett, 1839

The Fantail filefish (Pervagor spilosoma) is a marine fish of the family Monacanthidae. Native range: Eastern Pacific, throughout the Hawaiian Islands, including the Leeward Group; rare in Johnston Island.

Biology

Dorsal spines (total): 1; Dorsal soft rays (total): 36-39; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 32 - 36. Head and breast bluish gray, body yellowish or white. Head with irregular, oblique dark lines merging with many closely packed spots on body; region of mouth plus the lips white. Caudal fin red to orange, with a black sub terminal band; soft dorsal and anal fins clear to yellowish. Pelvic rudiment large narrowly attached to blackish posterior margin of ventral flap. Scale spinulation on midbody somewhat longer, finer and more acute than other species; each scale with high transverse ridge; male scale ridge rugosities develop at about 75 mm SL.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Species facts

Scientific name: Pervagor spilosoma
Family: Monacanthidae (Filefishes)
Order: Tetraodontiformes (Puffers and Filefishes)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 18.0
Depth range: 6–730 m (20–2395 ft)
Environment: Marine; reef-associated; depth range 6 - 730 m
Climate: Tropical
Distribution: Eastern Pacific: throughout the Hawaiian Islands, including the Leeward Group; rare in Johnston Island.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Aquarium: commercial
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)