Coral obligate filefish masquerades as branching coral

Abstract

[Extract] Masquerade occurs when an organism uses its coloration or shape to resemble an inedible object, causing it to be misidentified by potential predators, rather than simply remaining undetected (crypsis) (Skelhorn et al. 2010). The harlequin filefish, Oxymonacanthus longirostris (Bloch & Schneider, 1801), is a highly specialised species, which almost exclusively uses Acropora corals for food and as habitat (Kokita and Nakazono 2001). This species' behaviour during crepuscular and nocturnal periods, along with body form and colour pattern, suggests it masquerades as the branching Acropora species with which it associates.