Unicorn leatherjacket filefish (Aluterus monoceros) fish species and information / pictures of Unicorn leatherjacket filefish - Aluterus monoceros

Unicorn leatherjacket filefish (Aluterus monoceros) fish species information

Scientific Name
Aluterus monoceros

Common Name
Unicorn leatherjacket filefish

Biology
Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 45-52; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 47 - 53. Rudimentary pelvic spine disappears in large specimen (Ref. 36453). Snout convex in adults (Ref. 1602). Sandy to grey with small brown spots above; soft dorsal and anal fins pale yellowish to brownish; caudal membrane blackish brown (Ref. 4421).

Classification

Classified By

Linnaeus, 1758

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Puffers and Filefishes (Tetraodontiformes)

Family

Filefishes (Monacanthidae)

Distribution

Region

Circumtropical. Western Atlantic

Distribution

Circumtropical. Western Atlantic: Massachusetts, USA to Argentina (Ref. 36453). Eastern Atlantic: west coast of tropical Africa (Ref. 3592). Eastern Pacific: Guatemala to Chile (Ref. 9068); probably in Mexico (Ref. 9318). Western Indian Ocean: Mozambique and South Africa (Ref. 4421). Recently recorded from Reunion (Ref. 53568).

Range

43°N - 35°S

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

Unknown °C

Depth From - meters

1 m

Depth To - meters

50 m

Zone

reef-associated

Environment

Marine; reef-associated; depth range 1 - 50 m (Ref. 3592)

Trophic Level

3.51 s.e. 0.51 Based on diet studies.

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

False

Occurs in Fresh Water

False

Occurs on Reefs

True

Is kept in Aquariums

False

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

76.2 cm

Common Length

40.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5312 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Fisheries: commercial

Vulnerability

High vulnerability (63 of 100)

Resilience

Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.)

Threat To Humans

  Reports of ciguatera poisoning (Ref. 30911)

IUCN Red List Status

  Not Evaluated