Blacksaddle filefish

The blacksaddle filefish, Paraluteres prionurus, is a filefish of the family Monacanthidae. It reaches a length of a maximum 11 cm.

Blacksaddle filefish
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Tetraodontiformes
Family:	Monacanthidae
Genus:	Paraluteres
Species:	P. prionurus
Binomial name
Paraluteres prionurus (Bleeker, 1851)

The blacksaddle filefish are found in pairs or in small schools and inhabit reefs across the Indian and Pacific oceans.

Coloration is sandy to grey with distinctive black "saddles" on the back and a yellow tail.

Mimicry

The blacksaddle filefish is a Batesian mimic of the highly toxic pufferfish Canthigaster valentini,^[1] which is commonly found where ever P. prionurus is found. The two species have been known to school together.

Blacksaddle filefish (Paraluetes prionurus)

Black-saddled toby (Canthigaster valentini)

Gallery

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  Juvenile
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  Young female
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