scrawled filefish
A species of filefish (Aluterus scriptus) found in tropical and subtropical waters. The name is usually written in katakana.
The scrawled filefish is a fish that lives in warm seas.
The diver found a school of scrawled filefish.
Katakana spelling is standard for this fish name; usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling; rarely used in practice.
Variant kanji spelling with 剝; even rarer.
The name ソウシハギ likely derives from 草紙 (sōshi, 'bound book') and 剥ぐ (hagu, 'to peel off'), referring to the fish's rough skin that was once used like sandpaper to smooth paper or books. The exact historical derivation is uncertain.