Blacksaddle Filefish is a small fish with the scientific name Paraluteres prionurus. It belongs to the Monacanthidae family.
This filefish is usually found in pairs or groups around coral reefs in the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Blacksaddle Filefish have sandy or gray colors on their bodies with black patterns called “saddles” on their back, along with a yellow tail.
They have adapted to look like Canthigaster valentini, which is a highly poisonous pufferfish that lives in the same areas. The two species are even known to swim together sometimes.
Blacksaddle Filefish live in clear lagoons and seaward reefs down to about 25 meters deep. They can be found alone or in small groups.
Adult Blacksaddle Filefish often swim in pairs but can also form larger groups.
Their diet consists of eggs, gastropods (snails), and grazing on the substrate (bottom surface). However, they are not safe for coral reefs.
Blacksaddle Filefish Interesting Facts
- Blacksaddle Filefish, or Paraluteres prionurus, imitate the appearance of a poisonous pufferfish to deter predators.
- Found in coral reefs of the Indo-Pacific region, they typically swim at depths of 1 to 25 meters.
- Adults often form pairs or small groups and feed on eggs, snails, and bottom surfaces.
- Unique features include a dorsal spine that folds into a groove along its back and hair-like structures with forward-facing spines near the tail fin.
Blacksaddle Filefish Habitat
Blacksaddle Filefish is found in the Indo-Pacific region, from East Africa to Fiji, and from southern Japan to the southern Great Barrier Reef and New Caledonia.
It lives in marine environments near reefs and doesn’t migrate. This fish is typically found at depths of 1 to 25 meters in tropical waters between 32°N to 24°S latitudes.
In the Red Sea, Blacksaddle Filefish is replaced by Paraluteres arquat.
| Water Temperature: | Unknown |
| Water pH: | Unknown |
| Water Hardness: | Unknown |
Blacksaddle Filefish Physical Characteristics
Size: 4.3 inches (11.0 centimeters)
Blacksaddle Filefish grows up to 4.3 inches (11.0 centimeters) long. It has 2 dorsal spines and 25 to 28 dorsal soft rays. While it has no anal spines but has 22 to 25 anal soft rays.
Its color ranges from pale greenish to dirty white with blackish-brown patterns on top. There is usually a round dark spot above the start of its anal fin.
The fins are mostly clear, with slightly darker tips, and the tail fin is yellowish.
Blacksaddle Filefish is unique because its first dorsal spine is shorter than its snout and folds into a groove along its back.
The snout’s shape is straight or slightly concave, and the pelvic area may have very small or no features at all.
On the back half of the body, there’s a dense patch of hair-like structures ending in two pairs of forward-facing spines at the base of the tail fin.
This fish’s body depth at the start of its anal fin measures between 2 to 2.4 times smaller than its standard length (SL).
Blacksaddle Filefish Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Tetraodontiformes |
| Family: | Monacanthidae |
| Genus: | Paraluteres |
| Scientific Name: | Paraluteres prionurus |
| Also Known As: | Blacksaddle Filefish |
| Conservation Status: | Unknown |