Prickly leather-jacket

Chaetodermis penicilligerus

''Chaetodermis penicilligerus'', also known as the prickly leather-jacket or tasselled leather-jacket, is a demersal Marine fish belonging to the family Monacanthidae. This fish is in the monotypic genus ''Chaetodermis''. It occasionally makes its way into the marine aquarium fish trade.
Weedy Filefish - Chaetodermis penicilligerus The Weedy Filefish - Chaetodermis penicilligerus is also known as Leafy Filefish, its brown to brownish yellow, shaggy covered with numerous skin flaps; wavy brown lines on side, black dots on transparent dorsal anal and tail fins.

This was seen at Mabul Island, Sabah back in 2012. Chaetodermis penicilligerus,Filefish,Leafy Filefish,Mabul,Malaysia,Prickly leather-jacket,Sabah,Weedy Filefish

Appearance

The prickly leather-jacket is a medium-sized fish which grows up to 31 cm.
The body is highly compressed laterally, stocky, the mouth is terminal; the head size is big proportionally to the body.
Dermal appendages are visible mainly on the body's margin and also on the sides. They are part of the fish camouflage system

Distribution

It is widely distributed throughout the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Persian Gulf and South Africa excluded, to the central islands of the Pacific Ocean.

The background coloration of the body is light brown or sand-colored with dark longitudinal lines and blotches outlined with blue.
The prickly leather-jacket has two erectile dorsal spines.
Its dorsal, anal and caudal fin are translucent but only the rays are a bit darker and visible.

Behavior

The prickly leather-jacket is solitary and has a diurnal activity.

Habitat

It is widely distributed throughout the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Persian Gulf and South Africa excluded, to the central islands of the Pacific Ocean.

The background coloration of the body is light brown or sand-colored with dark longitudinal lines and blotches outlined with blue.
The prickly leather-jacket has two erectile dorsal spines.
Its dorsal, anal and caudal fin are translucent but only the rays are a bit darker and visible.

Food

The prickly leather-jacket mainly feeds on algaes and small marine invertebrates.

References:

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Status: Not evaluated
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Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionChordata
ClassActinopterygii
OrderTetraodontiformes
FamilyMonacanthidae
GenusChaetodermis
SpeciesC. penicilligerus
Photographed in
Malaysia