The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.
Total number of species approx.: 100
Filefish are quirky reef dwellers known for their rough, sandpapery skin and uniquely compressed bodies. They range widely in size, from tiny species just a few centimeters long to the impressive broomtail filefish, which can reach up to 110 cm. A fascinating feature of many filefish is their ability to mimic venomous pufferfish, inflating their bodies and adopting similar patterns to discourage predators.
With small, upturned mouths, they graze on algae, seagrass, and invertebrates, often blending in with corals and seaweed for camouflage. Found in tropical and subtropical seas worldwide, filefish are relatives of triggerfish but generally slimmer and less aggressive. Their combination of cryptic coloration, mimicry, and unusual body shape makes them one of the ocean’s most intriguing fish families.
