Canthigaster solandri (Spotted toby)

Identification

Brown, with a pale belly, covered in white to blue/green spots, similar color lines on the snout and back, ocellated spots on the dorsal fin base. It is also known as the Indian toby.

Status

Quite common in tropical waters.

Habitat

East Africa, the Indian Ocean to Micronesia, Southwest Japan to Queensland. It has been replaced by Canthigaster margaritata in the Red Sea. Found in sheltered rocky reefs, lagoons and seaward reefs. Occur over open barren areas, also among corals and under ledges, in a depth range of 1-50 meters.

Reproduction

Monogamous species.

Size

Up to 11cm.

Prey / Predation

It feeds mainly on filamentous red and green algae and coralline red algae but also on corals, tunicates, mollusks, echinoderms, polychaetes, crustaceans and bryozoans.

Special features

It has been suggested that Canthigaster solandri should be divided into 2 (sub)species, one in East Africa and the Indian Ocean (Canthigaster peters) and one in the (Indo) Pacific (Canthigaster solandri). This view however has net yet been accepted by everyone, which proves how difficult identifying this genus can be.