PLANEHEAD FILEFlSH Monacantltus hispidus
Family Balistidae (leatherjackets)
PLANEHEAD FILEFlSH Monacantltus hispidus
Body deep, compressed; mouth small; pelvic fins lacking; prominent spine on the pelvic bone; two dorsal spines; scales small, skin sandpaper-like; more than 30 rays each in the dorsal and anal fins; some males have an elongated greenish yellow first dorsal fin ray; color gray to tan with irregular markings. The pygmy filefish (M. setifer), which occurs further offshore, differs only in size (to 5 in.) and number of fin rays (less than 30 rays each in the dorsal and anal fins). Filefishes use their small but strong jaws to nip and crush reef encrusting organisms. Common at Gray's Reef. Nova Scotia to Brazil. 9 in.
ORANGE FILEFISH Aluterus shoepfi
Body deep, compressed; mouth small; pelvic tins lacking; no prominent spine on the pelvic bone; two dorsal spines; scales small, skin sandpaper-like; color orange or black with orange spots; snout flattened. The dotterel filefish (A. heudeloti), which is purplish with large barbs on the dorsal spine, and the orangespotted filefish (Cantherhines pullus), which has a deep groove into which the dorsal spine folds, have been found at Gray's Reef but are more common further offshore in deeper water. Nova Scotia to Brazil. 12-15 in.
GRAY TRIGGERFISH Balistes capriscus
Body deep, compressed; mouth small; pelvic fins lacking; three dorsal spines; scales large, platelike; color gray with a few markings on the head. The second dorsal spine is used to lock the first, and strongest, dorsal spine into an upright position. The spine is used to wedge its narrow body securely into a crevice of the reef if attacked by a predator. Unlike most fishes, triggerfish swim by undulations of the second dorsal and anal fins. Common at Gray's Reef. Nova Scotia to Argentina. 11 in.
Family Ostraciidae (trunkfishes)
SCRAWLED COWFISH Lactophrys quadricomis
Body encased in a bony carapace, frontal profile triangular, spinous dorsal and pelvic fins lacking, strong spines projecting forward over the eyes, color grayish brown to yellowish green with prominent bright blue markings on the head and body. Armored for protection, it is often seen near sponges and gorgonians of flat reef areas at Gray's Reef. The smooth trunkfish (L. triqueter), which lacks the horns, has white and yellow spots and has black around the mouth and base of the dorsal fin, has also been observed at Gray's Reef. Massachusetts to Brazil. 16 in.
Family Tetraodontidae (puffers)
NORTHERN PUFFER Sphoeroides maculatus
Head large, dorsal and anal fins located toward the caudal fin, skin covered with small prickles, teeth beak-like with a median division, series of seven or eight vertically elongate oblique bars on the sides of the body, capable of inflating the body by gulping water into the stomach. Five other species have been reported from the Georgia: the Florida puffer (S. nephelus), the bandtail puffer(S. spengleri), the checkered puffer (S. testudineus), the marbled puffer (S. dorsalis), and the smooth puffer (Lagocephalus laevigatus). Puffers produce a toxin in the skin and viscera. Newfoundland to Northeastern Florida. 5-12 in.
Family Diodontidae (porcupinefishes and burrfishes)
STRIPED BURRFISH Chilomycterus schoepfi
Head large; body covered with short, erect spines; median division between the beak-like teeth lacking; adults have dark wavy or curved lines and spots on the body; juveniles are darker without distinct lines. The related porcupinefishes (Diadon spp.) have long spines that lie along the sides of the body and erect only when the body is inflated. Both burrfishes and porcupinefishes discourage predators by gulping water or air into the stomach. Maine to Brazil. 9 in.