Snorkel Hawaii - Bluelined Leatherjacket

Family	Monacanthidae
Description	Filefishes
Environment	Marine
Etymology	Greek, monos = only + Greek, akantha = thorn
Genus	28
No. of Species	107
Order	Tetraodontiformes
Class	Actinopterygii
Reproductive Guild	Mixed
Distribution	Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Oceans. Usually two dorsal spines; the second is usually much smaller and it may be absent. Upper jaw usually with three teeth in outer and two in the inner series on each premaxillary, developed for nibbling; 19-31 vertebrae. Alutera scripta reaches 1 m maximum length. Most species feed on a wide variety of benthic invertebrates, but some specialize on corals or zooplankton. Filefishes lay demersal eggs in a site prepared and guarded by the male or both parents. Some of the subtropical species release eggs in open water.

Oilipa