ACREICHTHYS RADIATUS - (POPTA, 1900)
Picture courtesy of: Alain Daoulas
Poisson-lime rayonnant, Bristle-tail filefish, Flower-coral filefish, Radial leatherjacket, Radial filefish, Sudarekawahagi, スダレカワハギ, 薄體鬃尾魨,
Synonyme
Monacanthus radiatus (Popta, 1900)
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Description
Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 26-29; Anal soft rays: 25-27; Pectoral fin rays: 10-11. First dorsal fin and pelvic fin rudiment relatively long, robust with prominent barbs; caudal fin rounded, caudal peduncle length about equal to depth with an oblong bristle patch in males; Body and first dorsal fin spine with scattered skin flaps. Adult males develop bristles on the caudal peduncle. Max. length: 7.0 cm TL. Depth range: 2 - 12 m.
Color
A brown leatherjacket with white lines radiating from the eye onto the head and front part of the body, and white bands and alternating broken lines on the rear of the body. Males have a patch of bristles on each side of the tail base.
Etymology
Acreichthys: from Greek, ákra = extremities + from Greek, ichthys = fish.
radiatus: from Latin, radiātus = radiated. Referring to white lines radiating from eye onto the head but possibly also referring to “each scale with curved lines radiating towards the centrum”.
Original description: Monacanthus radiatus Popta, 1900 - Type locality: Malay Archipelago.
Distribution
Eastern Indian Ocean, western Pacific: Central Indonesia, east to Philippines and New Guinea, north to Ryukyu Islands (Japan), south to Kimberley (Western Australia), Queensland (Australia) and New Caledonia.
Biology
Found among soft corals. Extremely well camouflaged when among the corals. Observed picking on the coral polyps and the coral tissue may be an important part of their diet.
Description
Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 26-29; Anal soft rays: 25-27; Pectoral fin rays: 10-11. First dorsal fin and pelvic fin rudiment relatively long, robust with prominent barbs; caudal fin rounded, caudal peduncle length about equal to depth with an oblong bristle patch in males; Body and first dorsal fin spine with scattered skin flaps. Adult males develop bristles on the caudal peduncle. Max. length: 7.0 cm TL. Depth range: 2 - 12 m.
Color
A brown leatherjacket with white lines radiating from the eye onto the head and front part of the body, and white bands and alternating broken lines on the rear of the body. Males have a patch of bristles on each side of the tail base.
Etymology
Acreichthys: from Greek, ákra = extremities + from Greek, ichthys = fish.
radiatus: from Latin, radiātus = radiated. Referring to white lines radiating from eye onto the head but possibly also referring to “each scale with curved lines radiating towards the centrum”.
Original description: Monacanthus radiatus Popta, 1900 - Type locality: Malay Archipelago.
Distribution
Eastern Indian Ocean, western Pacific: Central Indonesia, east to Philippines and New Guinea, north to Ryukyu Islands (Japan), south to Kimberley (Western Australia), Queensland (Australia) and New Caledonia.
Biology
Found among soft corals. Extremely well camouflaged when among the corals. Observed picking on the coral polyps and the coral tissue may be an important part of their diet.
Last update: 17, September 2024