Stats

Lifespan

8-10 yrs

Size

Medium

Diet

Omnivore

Activity

Diurnal

Social

School

Biome

Coral reef

Range

Western Atlantic

Movement

Swimming

Breeding

Egg-laying

Defense

Spines

Status

Uncommon

About

The Atlantic spadefish is a disk-shaped swimmer found in shallow coastal reefs. Juveniles mimic floating dead leaves by drifting sideways to avoid being spotted by predators.

Life cycle

1. 1.
   hatchling fry

   A tiny fry hatches with a yolk sac and begins free-swimming once the sac is absorbed.
2. 2.
   juvenile

   A juvenile takes on adult body shape and feeds on small prey, often in nursery waters.
3. 3.
   adult

   Fully grown at adult size and coloration.

Learn more

• View on iNaturalist →

Taxonomy

Kingdom

Animalia

Phylum

Chordata

Class

Actinopterygii

Order

Acanthuriformes

Family

Ephippidae

Genus

Chaetodipterus

Species

Chaetodipterus faber