Longnose Filefish (Oxymonacanthus longirostris) テングカワハギ – Orange Spotted Filefish – Harlequin Filefish – size 14cm
A Longnose Filefish in Acropora coral. They feed almost exclusively on Acropora coral polyps. They hide in the Acropora at night for shelter. They also smell like Acropora and that is believed to offer protection. The physical protection of the Acropora should be pretty good on its own. Amami 2023
There were three Longnose Filefish in this group that was traveling around. Amami 2023
A Longnose Filefish being cleaned in the bleached branches of Acropora coral. There is a small patch of brown not quite dead coral in front of this Longnose Filefish. The Acropora coral is probably the most effected by the current bleaching event. It is almost all dead in the shallow reef areas that I have seen so far. Amami 2024