Strapweed file fish

Scientific name : Pseudomonacanthus macrurus

Marbled brown file fish, highly variable colour. Almost always visible scattered black spots and an obvious white blotch next to the pectoral fin. Short seaweed shaped skin flaps cover the whole body and the dorsal spine. Up to 45 cm. Possible confusion with a group of brown species living in the same environment: Paramonacanthus curtorhynchus, Paramonacanthus japonicus, Pseudomonacanthus peroni. The snout profile is different in P. curtorhynchus, the Pseudomonacanthus species usually show a black spotted colour pattern and skin flaps (especially obvious on the dorsal spine). A white blotch behind the pectoral fin and a spiny ridge on the males' caudal peduncle distinguish it from P. peroni.