Alcock's spikefish

<em>Halimochirurgus alcocki</em>, Alcock's Spikefish, is a saltwater fish of the family Triacanthodidae, the spikefishes—a group of deep-reef and slope-dwelling fishes related to triggerfishes and filefishes. Adults reach approximately 21.6 cm in length, and this species has been recorded at depths of 390 to 610 meters on the outer continental shelf and upper slope. Spikefishes are named for their prominent dorsal spines, which serve a defensive function. Members of <em>Halimochirurgus</em> are relatively slender and laterally compressed, typical of fishes navigating complex benthic environments at depth. Details of habitat and range for this species remain limited in the ichthyological literature. The species was named in honor of Alfred Alcock, the Victorian-era British naturalist who documented much of the deep-sea fauna of the Indian Ocean aboard the research vessel Investigator. <em>H. alcocki</em> has not been formally assessed for conservation status. Triacanthodids are generally uncommon in collections and relatively poorly studied compared to their shallow-water relatives in the order Tetraodontiformes.