Actinopterygii (Gigaclass) > Actinopteri (Class) > Teleostei (Subclass) > Tetraodontiformes (Order) > Balistoidei (Suborder) > Monacanthidae (Family) > Pervagor (Genus)

Poisson-lime à queue rouge, Blackheaded filefish, Blackheaded leatherjacket, Black-headed leatherjacket, Black-headed leather-jacket, Dark-headed leatherjacket, Redtail lilefish, Rotschwanz-leilenfisch, Rooistert-vylvis, Rødhalet filfisk, Nishikikawahagi, Nuriwakekawahagi, ヌリワケカワハギ, 黑头前角鲀, 黑頭前角魨,

Synonymes
Acreichthys melanocephalus (Bleeker, 1853)
Monacanthus melanocephalus (Bleeker, 1853)
Pervagor melanocephalus melanocephalus (Bleeker, 1853)
Pervagor scanleni (Smith, 1957)
Stephanolepis melanocephalus (Bleeker, 1853)

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Description
Dorsal spines (total): 2; Dorsal soft rays (total): 29-33; Anal soft rays: 27-30; Pectoral fin rays: 12-13. Body strongly compressed, slightly long. First Dorsal fin composed of two spines, first spine long. The second spine is short and hidden under the skin. Pelvic rudiment large not broadly attached to posterior margin of ventral flap. Scale ridge rugosities of male usually develop at about 65 mm SL. Scale spinulation on midbody not closely packed. Max. length: 16.0 cm TL. Depth range: 10 - 40 m.

Color
Blackish brown or bluish black head and anterior portion of body, rest of the body orange yellow. A black blotch surrounding the gill opening. Caudal fin orange yellow, but a dark blue thin line ran a few behind the caudal fin in the dorsoventral direction; Soft dorsal and anal fins yellow; First dorsal spine blackish brown.

Etymology
Pervagor: from Latin, pervagor = I wander through, I rove about, nomadic, itinerant.
melanocephalus: from ancien Greek, mélas, mélanos = black + from Greek, -kephalos = head.
Original description: Monacanthus melanocephalus Bleeker, 1853 - Type locality: Lawajong, Solor Island, Indonesia.

Distribution
Western Pacific: east Indian region, to Marshall Islands, Samoa, north to Ryukyu Islands and Ogasawara Islands (Japan), south to Queensland (Australia), New Caledonia and Lord Howe Island.

Biology
Inhabits clear coastal reefs and protected outer reef habitats with rich invertebrate growth. Prefers deeper reefs. Often in pairs. Sometimes solitary. Secretive, adults are usually in pairs. It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade.

Similar species
Pervagor aspricaudus (Hollard, 1854) - Reported from New Caledonia - Link to the species (here).
Pervagor marginalis (Hutchins, 1986) - Reported from South central Pacific: Marquesas and Line islands.