| Filefish and Triggerfish belong to a super family with the common name of Leatherjackets. Triggerfish, Balistidae, were featured last month. Another Leatherjacket, Filefish, will be discussed this month. The Leatherjacket name comes from the rough and abrasive texture of their skin. In some countries, the dried skin of triggerfish is even used as sandpaper. The skin of most Filefish is softer and has more of a velvet or furry texture. Filefish bodies are more compressed and elongated than Triggerfish. |
| While there are about 95 species of Filefishes worldwide and 54 species in Australian waters, only ten species are found in the shallow waters of the Tropical Western Atlantic. Three of the most abundant Filefish seen in Caribbean waters are the Orangespotted, Whitespotted and Scrawled Filefish. Other Filefish species include the Planehead, Orange, Unicorn, Slender, Pygmy, Fringed and Dotterel. The Dotterel Filefish prefers open water and is rarely seen near the coral reefs. The Scrawled Filefish frequently drifts over the reefs, often in open water. Most other Filefish inhabit the coral reefs or sea grass beds. The smallest Filefish in the Caribbean is the Slender Filefish which is only a couple of inches in length. They are rarely seen because of their expertise in camouflage. |
| Triggerfish, Balistidae, can lock their tough, front dorsal fin erect using a second spine which resembles a trigger. Once erect, the front dorsal fin cannot be unlocked without “pulling the trigger” or second spine. When threatened, triggerfish wedge their bodies into a tight crevice and lock their spine making it virtually impossible to be extracted by a predator. Filefishes, Monacanthidae, cannot lock their elongated spine into place. Filefish have two dorsal spines instead of three for the Triggerfish. The first dorsal fin of the Filefish is positioned more forward, usually starting over the eyes. |
| Filefish are poor swimmers and have a distinctive look while swimming because of the way they move. They swim with a wave like motion of their elongated back dorsal and anal fins using their caudal fins only for bursts of speed. Being poor swimmers, Filefish rely more on camouflage for protection. They can easily change their colors and patterns to match the surrounding background. To better understand how fast they can change colors, spend a little time watching the Whitespotted Filefish. They can switch frequently from the spotted phase to the continuous phase. When in pairs, one Filefish will often display one phase while its partner displays the opposite phase. |
| Like Trumpetfish, Filefish will often align their bodies vertically with gorgonian branches or sea grasses for camouflage while feeding. The diet of the Filefish is varied including stinging coral, sponges, algae, crustaceans, hydroids and gorgonians. According to The Conscientious Marine Aquarist, the Orangespotted Filefish feeds exclusively on coral polyps. |
