Whitespotted Filefish

A deep-bodied, slow-moving filefish that browses on sponges, gorgonians and algae, using an oval mouth of fused teeth to nip at fixed prey most other fish ignore. Can shift colour and pattern to blend with its surroundings and locks a stout dorsal spine upright when threatened, wedging itself into a crevice to avoid being pulled free.

Coral and gorgonian-rich reef slopes

Slow, deliberate browser on sessile invertebrates; locks into crevices when threatened