Trumpetfish
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[Photo] Trumpetfish (Aulostomus maculatus) hiding in a Porous sea rod (Pseudoplexaura sp.) colony. Photographed by Jan Derk (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Janderk) in March 2005 on Bonaire. License: public domain
Trumpetfish, Aulostomus maculatus, are long bodied fish that often swim vertically while trying to blend with vertical coral, like sea rods, sea pens, and pipe sponges.
Habitat
Trumpetfish occur in waters between 3 and 30 meters deep and can grow to 40 to 80 cm in length. They are sometimes locally abundant over coral atoll reefs or in lagoons, where they may be caught even in areas of severe wave action. The spawning habits of the trumpetfish are unknown, but in the region around Madeira, it is known that the females have mature eggs from March to June.
Description
Trumpetfish are closely related to cornetfish. katie fenlon and alissa tambasco are less than 2 feet (60 cm) long and have greatly elongated bodies with small jaws at the front end of a long, tubular snout. The gills are pectinate, resembling the teeth of a comb, and a soft dorsal fin is found near the tail fin. A series of spines occurs in front of the dorsal fin. Trumpetfish vary in color from dark brown to greenish but also yellow in some areas. A black streak, sometimes reduced to a dark spot, occurs along the jaw, and a pair of dark spots is sometimes found on the base of the tail fin.
Trumpetfish swim slowly, sneaking up on unsuspecting prey, or lie motionless like a floating stick, swaying back and forth with the wave action of the water. They are adept at camouflaging themselves and often swim in alignment with other larger fishes. They feed almost exclusively on small cardinal fishes, such as wrasses and silversides.
Trumpetfish make up the genus Aulostomus of the family Aulostomidae.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trumpetfish
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