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Animalia >Chordata >Osteichthyes >Tetraodontiformes >Monacanthidae >Chaetodermis >

The prickly leatherjacket belongs to the filefish family Monacanthidae. This family also includes the threadsail filefish and black scraper, which you may be familiar with at your dinner tables. The prickly leatherjacket is characterized by many skin flaps on body surface, which resemble pieces of seaweeds. Fishes of the order Tetraodontiformes, including those in the family Monacanthidae, generate power of propulsion mainly through the movement of dorsal and caudal fins. You can see in this video how the prickly leatherjacket swims using the membranous dorsal and caudal fins, The fin movement may not be apparent when fish is viewed from the front as this fish has a very flat body.
This fish is occasionally found around Kushimoto in Ki'i Peninsula. According to Mr. Tanake at Seto Marine Biological Station of the Kyoto University, this filefish probably is not reproducing in Kushimoto. They are probably brought to Kishimoto via the southern currents.

(Data No.momo050223cp01b)

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