Filefish

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Filefish are a group of 100 or so odd shaped fish, that have extremely rough, sandpapery skin that gives them their common name. Filefish can make their primary dorsal spine to stand erect. This serves to make the filefish look larger and more threatening to potential predators.

Filefish are poor swimmers as they have very small fins. They usually just drift along head down, along reefs, in an effort to avoid predators and sneak up on unsuspecting prey.


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Whitespotted Filefish, Cantherines macrocerus, drifting over coral reef in Pompano Beach

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Whitespotted Filefish, Cantherines macrocerus, West Palm Beach
Photo by Robert Palmer

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Orangespotted filefish, Cantherhines pullus, Boynton Beach

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Scrawled filefish, Aluterus scriptus, a master of disguise
Photo by Robert Palmer

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Scrawled Filefish, Key Largo
Photo courtesy of Federico Arismendi