individual CappaJ^^ntly) was sean several times in the same IloIIow at 

 nigtLt until July 16. Then and for three days following, the place 

 was occupied by a grouper at night, but on July 19, the triggerfish 

 was again in the crevice at 1930 hours. 



The night resting places of nine queen triggerfishes were found in 

 all. All that were visible were resting on one side except those 

 that stayed inside the experimental cage. 



During the feeding trials, no queen triggerfishes came to sample 

 plants, but on the algal plain, they were observed taking bites 

 of Halimeda , Udotea, and Lobophora , Randall (1967) examined 97 

 specimens and found only 1.2% algae in the stomach contents, including 

 5 calcareous, 2 leafy, and 1 fleshy species. The principal food 

 appears to be echinoids (72.8% in Randall's study), although the diet 

 may vary depending on the food available. Beebee and Tee-Van (1928) 

 found Thalassia and small crustaceans in the stomachs of two 

 specimens from Haiti . 



Monocanthidae . Filefishes 



Filef Ishes , closely related to triggerfishes, have varied food habits. 

 Eight species are known from the West Indies , including five kinds 

 that eat plants, but only small individuals of one (or perhaps two) 

 species were observed during the study. 



Monocanthus ciliatus (Mitchell) . Fringed Filefish 



Nximerous small filefishes that I believe to be of this species were 

 frequently observed associated with algae and sea grasses on the plain 

 as far distant as plant cover extended. Individuals were often seen 

 head downward, close to a frond of Halimeda or Syringodium , and 

 occasionally were seen nibbling filamentous epiphytes. 



Randall (1967) found stomach contents of 14 specimens to contain 

 21.2% algae, all filamentous, with organic detritus, as well as 

 15.4% of the sea grass, Thalassia testudintmi . 



The habits of these filefishes observed agree well with observations 

 recorded by Longley and Hildebrand C1941) and Bohlke and Robins, who 

 most commonly found M. ciliatus associated with beds of sea grass. 



VI-157 



