About Amanses scopas (Cuvier, 1829)
Amanses scopas, commonly known as the broom filefish, is a species of filefish. It is the only currently living species in the genus Amanses, which belongs to the family Monacanthidae. In Australia, it is also called the brush-sided leatherjacket, and on Christmas Island it is referred to as the broom leatherjacket. The broom filefish is a non-harmful tropical reef fish found in the Red Sea and the Indo-Pacific oceans. This species can grow to a length of 20 centimeters (7.9 inches). Its body is brown, marked with up to 12 narrow dark brown crossbars. The caudal fin is dark brown, while the soft dorsal, anal, and pectoral fins are pale in color. Males have many long spines in the area in front of the caudal peduncle; in the same location, females have a toothbrush-like mass of setae. Broom filefish live on semi-protected seaward reefs, in areas with a mix of sand, rubble, and coral heads.
