Dorsal spines: 2 (2nd spine not visible); Dorsal rays: 31-35; Anal spines: 0; Anal rays: 29-32. A small slender leatherjacket. Body elongate. Snout elongate and pointed. Small terminal mouth. First dorsal fin origin above eye. Pelvic fin rudiment Colour. Base colour greenish. Rows of orange-yellow spots and dashes along body. A small black blotch on the on caudal fin. Maturity: Unknown. Max length: 12.0 cm TL. This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. Coral bleaching can rapidly affect this corallivorous species. At Cousine island (Seychelles) this species declined rapidly after extensive Bray, D.J. (2022). Oxymonacanthus longirostris in Fishes of Australia, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/812 (24/10/23).
English Name: Harlequin filefish
Creole Name:
French Name: Poisson lime à taches oranges
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU)
Description:
absent. Males with slightly elongate bristles on caudal peduncle.
Size:
Habitat and Ecology:
Fishery Status:
Notes:
coral mortality in 1998 from a mean of 6.4 individuals per count in 1997 to 0.0 individuals per count in 1999 (Spalding and Jarvis 2002).
The occurrence of healthy acroporid corals, which appear to be particularly susceptible to coral bleaching is essential to the survival of this species
in the wild.
Photos courtesy and (c) 2023 Green Islands Foundation (GIF).
References:
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. Eds. (2023). FishBase. Oxymonacanthus longirostris. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/6559 (24/10/23).
Matsuura, K. & Motomura, H. (2016). Oxymonacanthus longirostris. The IUCN Red List 2016 (errata version 2017): https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T70010721A70011814.en. (24/10/23).
Spalding, M.D. & Jarvis, G. (2002). Impacts of the 1998 coral mortality on reef fish communities in the Seychelles. Marine Pollution Bulletin 44: 309-321.
Fish Family:
Scientific Name: Oxymonacanthus longirostris