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Family Malacanthidae

HAWAII

Malacanthus brevirostris

Kahe Point, Oahu, 50 feet

FLAGTAIL TILEFISH     maka‘ā

Uncommon among sandy rubble at scuba depths where it feeds upon buried worms and shellfish.  An active predator that swims with an undulating motion, clearly displaying two black stripes on the tail.  Attains 12 inches.  Hawai‘i, the Indo-Pacific, and Tropical Eastern Pacific.  Formerly known as Malacanthus hoedtii.