Editing Tilefish (section)

== Habitat and diet ==
Generally shallow-water fish, tilefish are usually found at depths of 50–200 m in both temperate and tropical waters of the [[Atlantic Ocean|Atlantic]], [[Pacific Ocean|Pacific]], and [[Indian Ocean]]s. All species seek shelter in self-made burrows, caves at the bases of [[reef]]s, or piles of rock, often in canyons or at the edges of steep slopes. Either gravelly or sandy substrate may be preferred, depending on the species.<ref name=Baird-1988>{{cite journal |last1=Baird |first1=Troy A. |year=1988 |title=Female and male territoriality and mating system of the sand tilefish, ''Malacanthus plumieri'' |journal=Environmental Biology of Fishes |volume=22 |issue=2 |pages=101–116 |doi=10.1007/BF00001541 |bibcode=1988EnvBF..22..101B |s2cid=46452205 }}</ref>

Most species are strictly marine; an exception is found in the [[blue blanquillo]] (''Malacanthus latovittatus'') which is known to enter the [[brackish]] waters of [[Papua New Guinea]]'s [[Goldie River]].<ref name=Wingerter-2011>{{cite web |author=Wingerter, Kenneth |year=2011 |title=Reconsidering the sand tilefishes |series=Aquarium fish |website=reefs.com |url=https://reefs.com/magazine/aquarium-fish-reconsidering-the-sand-tilefishes/ |access-date=7 March 2021}}</ref>

Tilefish feed primarily on small [[benthos|benthic]] [[invertebrate]]s, especially [[crustacean]]s such as [[crab]] and [[shrimp]]. [[Mollusk]]s, [[worm]]s, [[sea urchin]]s, and small fish are also taken.<ref name = gma>{{cite web |title=Tilefish  |website=gma.org |url=http://gma.org/fogm/L_chamaeleonticeps.htm |access-date=7 March 2021}}</ref>

After the 1882 mass die-off,<ref name=Marsh-Petrie-etal-1999>{{cite journal |last1=Marsh |first1=Robert |last2=Petrie |first2=Brian |last3=Weidman |first3=Christopher R. |last4=Dickson |first4=Robert R. |last5=Loder |first5=John W. |last6=Hannah |first6=Charles G. |last7=Frank |first7=Kenneth |last8=Drinkwater |first8=Ken |display-authors=6 |year=1999 |title=The 1882 tilefish kill – a cold event in shelf waters off the north-eastern United States? |journal=Fisheries Oceanography |volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=39–49 |doi=10.1046/j.1365-2419.1999.00092.x|bibcode=1999FisOc...8...39M }}</ref> [[great northern tilefish]] were thought to be extinct until a large number were caught in 1910 near New Bedford, Massachusetts.<ref>{{cite news |title=Tile fish reappears |date=2 July 1910  |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |url=http://nyti.ms/1rfvc9K}}</ref>