Scrawled Filefish

ID points

• Blue scrawled lines and black dots on an olive ground
• Broad fan-like tail fin, usually trailing behind
• A long slender spine on top of the head that can be raised

Basics

Family

Monacanthidae

Length

55–110 cm

Depth

2-80 m

Regions

Indo-Pacific reefs · Caribbean & W. Atlantic · Open ocean

Distribution

Tropical and subtropical waters of all oceans

Habitat

Reefs, wrecks and drifting weed

Diet

Algae, hydroids, anemones

Easily confused with

Longnose FilefishEmerald green ground covered with orange square patchesBlue-ringed OctopusElectric blue rings flare over the whole body when it is provokedBoxfishThe body is encased in bony plates, almost square in cross section

Fun fact

The body is covered in irregular blue scribbles, and no two individuals carry the same markings. It is the most intricately patterned of all the filefishes.