Paraluterus prionurus

Paraluterus prionurus, commonly known as the False puffer, is a filefish which mimics the more well-known pufferfish Canthigaster valentini. This mimic is so good, that even the advanced aquarist will easily be fooled. So always double check which fish your dealing with before buying it! The best way to tell which fish is the prionurus is that it has stripes on top of the nose, where valentini has spots.

P. prionurus uses what is called Batesian mimicry. This means that an edible fish (the prionurus) mimics a poisonous fish (the valentini) to prevent him from being eaten. Valentini usually form shoals of 10 to over 100 individuals and around 5% prionurus blend in.

These fish are omnivores like most filefishes.They graze the reef and bottom for algae, invertebrates, tunicates and sponges, but has been seen nipping on sea cumcumbers and sea stars in aquaria as well.