Japanese Inflator Filefish

Brachaluteres ulvarum is a species of marine fish in the family Monacanthidae.

Description

It's a small size fish that can reach a maximum size of 7,5 cm length. On the back, behind the first prickly ray, there is no groove into which this ray is immersed in the state pressed to the back. The pelvic bones are poorly developed, they do not reach the anus much. The belly is very swollen.

Dorsal fin rays 11, 27-30; anal fin rays 24-26; pectoral fin rays 10-12; head length 2.8-3.3, body depth 1.4-1..5, snout length 4.0-4.8, and length of soft dorsal base 2.1-2.3, all in SI,: eye diameter 2.6-3.4, gill slit length 4.2-5.9, first dorsal spine length 1.2-1.5, interdorsal space 1.2-1.5, longest soft dorsal ray (eighth) 2.9-4.3, and caudal fin length 1.0-1.3, all in head length; caudal peduncle prominent, length 2.5-3.7 in head length and 1.3-1.4 in caudal peduncle depth.

Colour is variable according to habitat. Its ground colour is brown, white, yellow, grey, blue, purple, pink, green with many small dark spots on the sides, those on upper two-third's of body forming numerous thin longitudinal lines. The first dorsal spine has a colour of a body while the other fins are hyaline.

Distribution

The Japanese inflator filefish is an endemic species living in the south of Japan.

Habitat

Inhabits bottoms with green seaweed. Secretive on deep coastal slopes, usually among soft corals. Feeds on algae and crabs. Capable of inflating its body like puffers.