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Whitespotted pygmy filefish (Rudarius ercodes) — Monacanthidae

Whitespotted pygmy filefish

Rudarius ercodes
Family: Monacanthidae

The Whitespotted pygmy filefish (Rudarius ercodes) is a saltwater fish of the family Monacanthidae that grows up to 8 cm.

Length
7.5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Whitespotted pygmy filefish is a small filefish (Monacanthidae) from coastal waters of the northwest Pacific, off East Asia. The species grows to about 7 cm and has a deep, laterally compressed body with a rough, file-like skin and an erectable first dorsal spine. As a slow swimmer it shelters among seagrass, weed and coral and snaps at small invertebrates, algae and zooplankton. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Whitespotted pygmy filefish?

The Whitespotted pygmy filefish has a flattened, disc-shaped body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Whitespotted pygmy filefish live?

The Whitespotted pygmy filefish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Whitespotted pygmy filefish get?

The Whitespotted pygmy filefish grows to a maximum of about 8 cm.

Is the Whitespotted pygmy filefish dangerous to humans?

No, the Whitespotted pygmy filefish is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Witstip-dwergvijlvis sourced
English name
Whitespotted pygmy filefish sourced
Scientific name
Rudarius ercodes
Family
Monacanthidae
Other names
Whitespotted pygmy filefish; White-spotted pygmy filefish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
7.5 verified
Body shape
Flat / disc-shaped sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Rudarius

More from the family Monacanthidae

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