Canthigaster valentini (Black-saddled toby)
White with light brown to orange spots and 4 dark brown to black saddles, the middle 2 extend onto the lower side, yellow tail. It lives solitary or in small groups. It is mimicked by another species of filefish Paraluterus prionurus, which has an extra (first) dorsal fi.
Common.
Red and East Africa down to Durban, Indian Ocean, Indo Pacific, South Japan down to Lord Howe island and Australia. Found among coral heads and rocks of subtidal lagoon and seaward reefs. Common on coastal reefs at various depths between 1-55 meters.
Territorial and haremic; males spawn with a different female each day. One or more territories are occupied and defended each by a female where a single large male stands guard. All sexually mature females are territorial females. Demersal spawner
Up to 11cm.
Feed mainly on filamentous green and red algae, tunicates, and on smaller amounts of corals, bryozoans, polychaetes, echinoderms, mollusks, and brown and coralline red algae.
Poisonous to eat. Form shoals (10-100 or more) often with the filefish, Paraluteres prionurus (about 5% of shoal) mimicking Canthigaster valentini to protect it from predators.
