Description:

Dorsal spines: 2; Dorsal rays: 34-39; Anal spines: 0; Anal rays: 28-35.

Body deep, oblong and compressed. Snout profile: concave to straight. Eye set well back over gill opening. First dorsal spine originating over anterior 
half of eye, retracts into deep groove in back. Pelvic fin rudiment non-mobile, and not prominently projecting rearward of ventral flap. Two pairs of 
spines on each side of caudal peduncle. Peduncle spines small in juvenile and adult female, enlarged and recurved forward in adult male.

Colour. Body grey-brown to brown with indistinct darker bars on the rear half of the body. Eye bordered with white and bright orange-yellow iris. Lips 
white. Large incisor teeth reminiscent of human incisors. Dorsal, anal and pectoral fins yellow to orangish-yellow. Caudal fin orange with dusky rays. 
Sexually dimorphic with males having longer and deeper orange peduncular spines and deeper orange tail and eyes. Juveniles dark grey with white spots on 
head and body.

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 38 cm TL. Common length: 25 cm TL. 
 

Inhabit coral reefs (depth 6-70 m, usually 6-35 m). Common in surface waters around oceanic islands. Usually solitary or in pairs. Feeds on tips of 
branching corals, algae, sponges, sea urchins, and molluscs. Juveniles are pelagic, seen under floating objects. The sexes are separate and males and 
females are often seen in pairs. Fertilization is external and females produce pelagic eggs.
 

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught in the fish trap fishery, but is a rare component of the catch. 
 

Bray, D.J. Cantherhines dumerilii in Fishes of Australia, http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/796 (13/07/19).
Fischer, W. & G. Bianchi (eds), (1984).  FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Western Indian Ocean; (Fishing Area 51). Prepared and 
printed with the support of the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA). Rome, Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations, vols 1-6.
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2019). FishBase. https://www.fishbase.se/summary/5836 (13/07/19).
Heemstra P & Heemstra, E. (2004). Coastal Fishes of Southern Africa. NISC SAIAB. ISBN: 1-920033-01-7.
Matsuura, K. & Motomura, H. (2016). Cantherhines dumerilii (errata version 2017). The IUCN Red List 2016: http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T69922228A70010085.en. (13/07/19).

Nevill, J.E.G. (2019). Cantherhines dumerilii, Whitespotted filefish. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/cantherhines-dumerilii-hollard-1854/ (edited 05/09/22).