Scrawled Filefish
Aluterus scriptus
Valid name (FishBase; confirmed in Eschmeyer's Catalog of Fishes and WoRMS, October 2026).
- English
- Scrawled Filefish
- Scientific
- Aluterus scriptus
- Dhivehi
- ފަންކާ ފަތިރޮނޑުFankaa fathirondu
- Group
- Reef fish
- Maximum size
- Up to about 1.1 m (total length); commonly 55 cm; max. published weight 2.5 kg (FishBase); MRS 1997 gives max. 1 m
- Depth and habitat
- Coral reefs and reef-associated habitats, recorded from 3 to 120 m (usually 3 to 20 m)
- IUCN status
- LC · Least ConcernLeast Concern (LC), assessed 2014
Description
One of the largest filefishes, reaching about 1.1 m, with a long, flattened body, a concave snout and a long, broom-like rounded tail. It is olive-brown to grey covered with blue spots and short lines and small black dots. It drifts slowly along reef slopes, often at an angle, and nibbles algae, seagrass, hydroids, gorgonians and tunicates; juveniles travel far offshore under floating weed.
In the Maldives
Dhivehi name fankaa fathirondu (MRS 1997). MRS describes it as shy and usually solitary on Maldivian reefs.
Sources
- fishbase.se /summary/Aluterus-scriptus.html
- fao.org /4/AD471E/AD471E00.htm
- fishbase.se /comnames/CommonNamesList.php?ID=4275&GenusName=Aluterus&SpeciesName=s
- dv.wikipedia.org /wiki/ފަންކާ_ފަތިރޮނޑު
- commons.wikimedia.org /wiki/File:Aluterus_scriptus_318799885.jpg
Dhivehi name source: M.R.S. (1997) Fishes of the Maldives (FAO/BOBP MAG/21) gives 'Fankaa fathirondu' (Latin form). FishBase (country: Maldives) gives only the general group name 'Rondu'. Thaana from the Dhivehi Wikipedia article 'ފަންކާ ފަތިރޮނޑު' (derived from the MRS 1997 Dhivehi edition); it matches the Latin form. FishBase also lists 'Fathi-rondu' under India (Minicoy/Lakshadweep Mahl dialect); not used. FLAG: the source states no traditional name was recorded and this descriptive name was coined for the book; it is not an established fishermen's name.