White Spotted Filefish

During your Key West Snorkeling adventure, it is likely that you will spot the White Spotted Filefish that inhabit the coral reefs and rocky ocean bottom in the region. Easily distinguished with their bright orange coloring, the White Spotted Filefish is a rather large, flat fish with a sandpapery flesh that inspired its common name. Similar to other fish species, it has the ability to darken its coloring to appear nearly black in color with a large white polka dot design. Since this color change happens naturally in an instant, it can be especially exciting to watch while snorkeling.

The White Spotted Filefish tends to be found drifting downward among the seaweed, either individually, paired, or in small groups of other filefish. Since the juvenile fish are highly at risk from predation by dolphin fish, tuna, and other large fish, the seaweed is used as a hideaway to keep the fish safe in dangerous open waters. Like other filefish, the White Spotted Filefish has a sharp spine on the top of its head that can be extended when the fish feels threatened to ward off predators. Since the filefish have small fins that cause them to move in a sluggish pace, the spine is an advantageous feature that make up for their lack of swimming skills and makes them harder to feast on.

Adult White Spotted Filefish are normally shallow water fish that are only found in depths less than around 30 meters. In this habitat, the fish feeds on small benthic invertebrates, including tunicates, hydrozoans, and gorgonians, as well as certain types of algae and coral. When you are enjoying your next Key West Snorkeling trip, make sure to keep an eye out for the White Spotted Filefish in the lagoons, seaward reefs, seagrass beds, and sticking their heads out from the dense mats of seaweed.