Animal Pictures Archive mobile
Query: mimic filefishResult: 1st of 8
Image of: Paraluteres prionurus (hooked filefish)
Subject: Image of: Paraluteres prionurus (hooked filefish)
Source: http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/resou...
mimic filefish.jpg
Resolution: 369x240 File Size: 20460 Bytes Upload Date: 2008:05:15 11:30:49

Image of: Paraluteres prionurus (hooked filefish)


Image of: Paraluteres prionurus (hooked filefish)

ADW: mimic_filefish.jpg


Location
Luzon Island, Philippines
Caption
This appears to be a sharp-nosed pufferfish (Canthigaster valentini) at first glance, but the long, broad dorsal and ventral fins of this small three-inch (7.6 cm) filefish betray its true identity as an imposter, the mimic filefish, false puffer, or blacksaddle filefish (Paraluteres prionurus). The "real" pufferfish has a much smaller dorsal fin, set further rearward along the spine. The filefish gains a survival advantage through mimicry, since sharp-nosed pufferfish are avoided by predators because of their poisonous flesh. This one even has the act perfected down to the way it behaves, carrying its caudal fin closed most of the time and seen resting on the reef. Unfortunately it appears to have a parasitic fish louse attached.

mimic filefish
1/8
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