Marine Wildlife Encyclopedia
Scrawled Filefish Aluterus scriptus
Beautiful blue, irregular markings like a child’s scribbles give this reef fish its name. Filefish are closely related to triggerfish, but are thinner and, except for the scrawled filefish, usually smaller. This large species has one large and one tiny spine on its back over the eyes. The fish uses these spines to help wedge itself into crevices for safety.
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- Order Tetradontiformes
- Length Up to 3 ft (1.1 m)
- Weight Up to 5 lb (2.5 kg)
- Depth 6–400 ft (2–120 m)
- Distribution Tropical and subtropical waters of Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans
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