Monacanthus ciliatus

Family	Scientific Name	Author	Year	Common Name
Monacanthidae	Monacanthus ciliatus	(Mitchill)	1818	Fringed Filefish

All Monacanthus Species:

Pelvic fin present as a rudiment at end of pelvis, mostly obscured from external view by a series of enlarged scales encasing it, appearing as a spinous process in the midline at end of pelvis. Region of back just behind dorsal spines without a deep groove to receive first dorsal-fin spine when it is not erected. Enlarged encasing scales at end of pelvis flexible dorsoventrally. First dorsal spine over posterior part of eye. Caudal peduncle of larger juveniles (2 cm and larger) and adults with 2-4 pairs of enlarged scale spines on each side, the spines curved forward in males. Ventral flap or dewlap of skin between end of pelvis and anus relatively large. None of the dorsal-fin rays elongate.

Monacanthus ciliatus

Unique Characters: Distance between origins of soft-dorsal and anal fins relatively large, 39-55% standard length. Snout relatively short in specimens larger than 3 cm standard length, 22-26% standard length.

Similar Species:

Monacanthus tuckeri, Slender Filefish

Slender Filefish, Monacanthus tuckeri. Distance between the origins of soft-dorsal and anal fins relatively small, 31-39% standard length. Snout relatively long in specimens larger than 3 cm standard length, 25-28% standard length.

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