Cantherhines pardalis, commonly known as the Honeycomb Filefish or Honeycomb Leatherjacket, is a species from the Monacanthidae family. It is predominantly found in the 🌊 Indian Ocean, the eastern Atlantic, and the western Pacific, excluding Hawaii. This tropical marine fish typically inhabits reefs, with its primary habitat ranging from depths of 1 to over 20 meters (3 to 66 feet).
The Honeycomb Filefish can grow up to 25 centimeters (9.8 inches) long, with an average size of about 15 centimeters (5.9 inches). Its dorsal fin is structured with two prominent spines in the front and a section of thirty-two to thirty-six soft rays in the back. The anal fin is devoid of spines but includes twenty-nine to thirty-two soft rays. The species features striking blue stripes on its head and a yellowish tail and can display three different color patterns: uniform dark brown, mottled grayish-brown, and gray with a complex web of polygonal spots. Notably, it has a white spot at the base of the rear dorsal and sometimes the anal fin.
Living a relatively secretive and solitary lifestyle, the Honeycomb Filefish feeds on benthic organisms. Young fish float with loose surface weeds, while adults often associate with large Sargassum rafts during the wet season.
The name Cantherhines derives from Greek, where "kanthos" refers to the corner of the eye and "rhinos" means nose, highlighting some of the unique physical characteristics of this species.
Why it's threatened
Threat classification from the IUCN Red List.
