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  • English Name : Wirenet filefish
  • Local Name : Dhaagandu fathirondu
  • Size : Max. 21 cm
  • Family : MONACANTHIDAE
  • Order : Tetraodontiformes
  • Distinctive Characters: Dorsal fin with 2 detached spines and 32-36 rays. Anal fin with 29-32 rays. Pectoral fin with 12-14 rays. Snout short. Dorsal profile of head slightly concave. First dorsal spine not long. No spines posteriorly on body, but males with a dense patch of setae on side of caudal peduncle.
  • Colour: Varying from dark brown or mottled dark brown to light grey with numerous brownish orange spots. Faint narrow stripes on head. A small white spot just behind rear base of soft dorsal fin.
  • Habitat and Biology: Usually seen solitary in outer reef, seagrass and seaweed beds to depths of about 20 m. Feeds on benthic organisms.
  • Distribution: Indo-Pacific.
  • Remarks: Cantherhines paradilis is closely related to C. sandwichensis of Hawaii, and C. pullus of the
    Atlantic. A wary fish, like others of the same genus.