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.