Species: Stephanolepis hispidus, Planehead filefish

Stephanolepis hispidus (Linnaeus, 1766)

Planehead filefish

Body deep, compressed; a relatively short pointed snout; snout and nape profile nearly straight, at 45º angle; a small mouth that opens at front; teeth moderately strong, six in outer row on top jaws and six in a single row on bottom jaws; gill opening a short slit on side before pectoral base; 2 dorsal fins, 1st with II spines, 1st spine over rear 1/2 of eye,  long, with hooked spines along its rear edge, does not fold down into a deep groove, erectile, can be locked in position by small 2nd spine, second dorsal fin ray elongate in male, 31-34 (29-35); anal fin 31-34 (30-35); pelvic fin rudiment evident as a spine protruding from a group of enlarged scales, those scales flexible dorsoventrally; scales minute, innumerable, skin rough; tail base without spines, its skin the same as that on rest of body; male with patch of bristles on tail base; skin flap between pelvis and anus relatively small.