Stephanolepis setifer
Pygmy Filefish
NS
G5
Collection Details
Specimens
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Tetraodontiformes (Pufferfishes and Allies)
Monacanthidae (Filefishes)
Stephanolepis
Stephanolepis setifer (Pygmy Filefish)
Description
This species account was compiled from
Composite (multiple sources) (McEachran, J.D. and J.D. Fechhelm. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. University of Texas Press, Austin.)
and processed using AI-assisted text extraction.
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Characters
Rectilinear in profile, with a prominent pelvic spine and no groove behind dorsal fin spines. Snout moderately projects beyond remainder of head and is more concave dorsally than ventrally. Jaw teeth are acutely pointed; those in upper jaw are in two rows, with three teeth in outer row and two teeth in inner row, and those in lower jaw are in a single row of three teeth. Gill opening is moderately oblique, slightly longer than pectoral fin base, and located above pectoral fin base. Gill rakers on first arch number 22 to 31. Measurements are expressed as percent of SL: head length 31%–40%, snout length 18%–27%, eye diameter 8%–16%, body depth 47%–60%. Pectoral fin usually has 11 to 13 rays. First dorsal spine is denticulate along anterior and lateral surfaces and bears two rows of barbs along posterior surface. Second dorsal fin has 27 to 29 (rarely 30) rays, with first ray filamentous in mature males. Pelvic spine is distinct and flexible at base. Anal fin has 27 to 29 (rarely 26 or 30) rays. Scales bear one or more spines, the number of spines increases with growth, and spines are branched in specimens longer than 30 mm SL. Adult males lack enlarged spines on caudal peduncle.
Color is tan, brown, or greenish, with short horizontal dark streaks or rows of small dark spots. Caudal fin has two dark bars.
Distribution
Western Atlantic from North Carolina and Bermuda to northern South America, including the Gulf of Mexico, the Bahamas, and the Antilles.
Habitat Associations
Associated with sea-grass beds. Depth range not specified.
Juveniles are associated with floating Sargassum and flotsam.
Biology
Maximum known size is 190 mm TL.
More common in offshore areas, including floating seaweed and flotsam, and around islands. Juveniles are associated with floating seaweeds (Ref. 3790). Probably feeds on plants and small invertebrates (Ref. 3790). Generally considered as trash fish, rarely consumed (Ref. 3790).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2014-09-16. Resilience: High (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: subsistence fisheries.
References
Berry and Vogele 1961
Böhlke and Chaplin 1968
Randall 1968a
Randall 1996
Hoese and Moore 1977
Hoese and Moore 1998 (as M. setifer)
Robins and Ray 1986 (as M. setifer)
Schaldach et al. 1997 (as M. setifer)
Smith 1997
Smith-Vaniz et al. 1999
Matsuura 2002c
Tyler, J.C. (1978) Monacanthidae. In W. Fischer (ed.) FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Western Central Atlantic (Fishing Area 31). Vol. 3. [pag. var.]. FAO, Rome.
Cervigón, F., R. Cipriani, W. Fischer, L. Garibaldi, M. Hendrickx, A.J. Lemus, R. Márquez, J.M. Poutiers, G. Robaina and B. Rodriguez (1992) Fichas FAO de identificación de especies para los fines de la pesca. Guía de campo de las especies comerciales marinas y de aquas salobres de la costa septentrional de Sur América. FAO, Rome. 513 p. Preparado con el financiamento de la Comisión de Comunidades Europeas y de NORAD.
Robins, C.R. and G.C. Ray (1986) A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, U.S.A. 354 p.
Randall, J.E. (1996) Caribbean reef fishes. Third Edition - revised and enlarged. T.F.H. Publications, Inc. Ltd., Hong Kong. 3nd ed. 368 p.
Smith, C.L. (1997) National Audubon Society field guide to tropical marine fishes of the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York. 720 p.
Smith-Vaniz, W.F., B.B. Collette and B.E. Luckhurst (1999) Fishes of Bermuda: history, zoogeography, annotated checklist, and identification keys. American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists Special Publication No. 4. 424 p.
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