Meristic formula D1, II; D2, 45-51; A, 47-53; P, 15

SHORT DESCRIPTION Body moderately deep, 2.6-3.0 times in Standard length and compressed. First dorsal fin with two spines, the first long and feeble the second minute. Second dorsal fin originating behind midpoint of body. Anal fin opposite to second dorsal fin and similar in shape. Small round pectoral fin. Pelvic fin absent, but there is pelvic knob-like rudiment in young individuals which is lost with growth. Caudal fin is rounded in young becoming emarginated in adults, its length 1.5-1.8 in head length. Upper head profile straight to slightly convex. The ventral profile of head anteriorly is concave becoming convex. Small eye at the upper part of the head. Snout longer than caudal fin. A slit-like gill opening in front of pectoral fin base. Smooth leathery skin. color : body light gray to brownish-tan, often with darker spots or blotches. Fins grayish with yellow touch. common size : 20-50 cm (max. 75 cm). DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS Stephanolepis diaspros  - Body depth 1.8-2.0 times in Standard length; first ray in second dorsal fin often filamentous. Balistes carolinensis – Three dorsal spines. BIOLOGY / ECOLOGY Feeds on benthic invertebrates, also algae remnants were reported in its stomach. Lives solitary or in small groups. habitat : benthopelagic in the continental shelf in the vicinity of rocks or corals to depth of 50 m.

1st MEDITERRANEAN RECORD Spain, Chafarinas Islands, 2007 [2000]. DISTRIBUTION Worldwide : Circumtropical and subtropical. Mediterranean : a single record from Spain, Chafarinas Islands (South-west Mediterranean) (Guallart and Vicent, 2007). ESTABLISHMENT SUCCESS Very rare, only a single specimen was recorded from the South-west Mediterranean. MODE OF INTRODUCTION Via Gibraltar. IMPORTANCE TO HUMANS Caught mainly by trawl and occasionally by trammel nets. Considered as an esteemed species, mainly in the Far East.

KEY REFERENCES Hutchins B., 1984. Monacanthidae. In: FAO species identification sheets for fishery purposes. Western Indian Ocean (Fishery Area 51) Fischer W. and Bianchi G. (eds). FAO United Nations, Rome. Guallart J. and Vicent J.J., 2007. First record of the Unicorn leatherjacket Aluterus monoceros (Pisces, Tetraodontiformes, Monacanthidae) in the Mediterranean Sea. Poster in the International Symposium of Marine Sciences. Valencia, Spain. March, 2007. Guallart J. and Vicent J.J., 2009. First record of the Unicorn leatherjacket Aluterus monoceros (Pisces, Monacanthidae) from the Mediterranean. Journal of Marine Biological Association of the U.K, JMBA2 – Biodiversity Records. http://www.mba.ac.uk/jmba/jmba2biodiversityrecords.php   Randall J.R., 1995. Coastal Fishes of Oman. University of Hawai'i Press, Honolulu, Hawai'i. FEEDBACK / COMMENTS TO AUTHORS

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