Animal Species:Blacksaddle Filefish, Paraluteres prionurus (Bleeker, 1851)

The Blacksaddle Filefish mimics the poisonous Blacksaddle Toby, Canthigaster valentini.

A Mimic Leatherjacket at 'Pixie's Pinnacle'

A Mimic Leatherjacket at 'Pixie's Pinnacle'
Erik Schlögl © Erik Schlögl

Alternative Name/s

Mimic Filefish, Mimic Leatherjacket.

Identification

The Blacksaddle Filefish is white with dark brown bars. It has two pairs of spines on the caudal peduncle.

The species can be distinguished from the Blacksaddle Toby by comparing their dorsal fins. The Blacksaddle Filefish has two dorsal fins, while the Blacksaddle Toby has only one. The second dorsal fin and anal fin are long-based (22-28 rays) in the Blacksaddle Filefish but short-based (9 rays) in the Blacksaddle Toby.
 

Size range

The species grows to 11 cm in length.

Distribution

The Blacksaddle Filefish occurs throughout tropical Indo-Pacific waters. In Australian it is found from Ashmore reef off north-western Western Australia, around the tropical north and south to the southern coast of New South Wales.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Paraluteres prionurus

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Blacksaddle Filefish specimens in the Australian Museum.

What does this mean?

Classification

Species:
prionurus
Genus:
Paraluteres
Family:
Monacanthidae
Order:
Tetraodontiformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 292.
  2. Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A Field Guide for Anglers and Divers. Western Australian Museum. Pp. 201. 
  3. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
  4. Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Pp. 557.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Sascha Schulz
Last Updated:

Tags fish, ichthyology, Blacksaddle Filefish, Paraluteres prionurus, Monacanthidae, white, flatfish, 10 cm - 30 cm, bands, coral reef, marine, dark brown bars, yellow tail,