Dr. John Turnbull, Marine Explorer, Australien
Info
(Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)
The males of Meuschenia freycineti in particular are a colorful jewel, an exception in this form among filefish.
This species is endemic to Australia (all Meuschenia filefish are found in Australia), but regionally there are highly variable, differently colored animals, so that one could well assume different species.
Males are significantly larger than females, but both sexes have 2 to 4 curved spines on each side of the caudal fin.
Males are bluish with fine blue lines and spots on the head, blue lines run along the dorsal and anal fins, and often a really large yellow to orange spot in the middle of the body is particularly noticeable.
Females and juveniles are pale greenish, yellow or brownish in color, but also show blue lines and spots on the head and several broad dark stripes on the sides of the body.
The omnivorous filefish will remain jewels of Australian waters as the animals are not exported.
Synonyms:
Balistes freycineti Quoy & Gaimard, 1824
Meuschenia skottowei Whitley, 1934
Monacanthus multiradiatus Günther, 1870
Stephanolepis freycineti (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)
Thamnaconus frecyneti (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)
The males of Meuschenia freycineti in particular are a colorful jewel, an exception in this form among filefish.
This species is endemic to Australia (all Meuschenia filefish are found in Australia), but regionally there are highly variable, differently colored animals, so that one could well assume different species.
Males are significantly larger than females, but both sexes have 2 to 4 curved spines on each side of the caudal fin.
Males are bluish with fine blue lines and spots on the head, blue lines run along the dorsal and anal fins, and often a really large yellow to orange spot in the middle of the body is particularly noticeable.
Females and juveniles are pale greenish, yellow or brownish in color, but also show blue lines and spots on the head and several broad dark stripes on the sides of the body.
The omnivorous filefish will remain jewels of Australian waters as the animals are not exported.
Synonyms:
Balistes freycineti Quoy & Gaimard, 1824
Meuschenia skottowei Whitley, 1934
Monacanthus multiradiatus Günther, 1870
Stephanolepis freycineti (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)
Thamnaconus frecyneti (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)
