Aluterus scriptus

(Osbeck, 1765)

Vernacular names
English : Scribbled leatherjacket filefish
French : Poisson-lime gribouillé

Classification
Class : Teleostei
Order : Tetraodontiformes
Family : Monacanthidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Adults can grow to 110 cm in length for a weight over 2.5 kg. Very long head with straight forehead, small mouth. Laterally compressed body. Greenish-yellow with black dots and a network of blue lines, dashes and spots on whole body.

Range and habitat
Circumtropical, Western Atlantic from South Canada to Brazil, east Atlantic in Cape Verde. Pacific from south Japan to New Caledonia and Gulf of California. Lives in lagoons and seaward reefs, including steep drop-offs, to 120 meters.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not Listed
Status : The species has a very large range and can survive in a variety of habitats. It is still common and isn’t affected by collection for aquarium trade.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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