Shrimpfish

Name

Shrimpfish (Centriscidae)

Alias

Razorfish and Snipefish

Size

Shrimpfish are usually 10 cm long but can measure up to 15 cm.

Identification

The body of the shrimpfish is elongated, very compressed and covered in bony plates. The first spine of the dorsal fin is at the rear of the body and is long and sharp. Its other two spines, the rest of its dorsal fin and caudal fin are located at the ventral side. Shrimpfish can be white in colour, marked with black lines, or yellow with black spots on the head.

General Info

Shrimpfish belong to the Centriscidae family which consists of five genera and 13 species. They can be found on reefs and in areas with seagrass, where they camouflage themselves by mimicking the shape and motion of the seagrass. They are pelagic spawners.

Feeding

Shrimpfish feed on small zooplankton.

Distribution

They can be found in all temperate and tropical oceans across the world.

Common Species

Grooved shrimpfish (Centriscus scutatus)
Shrimpfish (Aeoliscus strigatus)
Speckled shrimpfish (Aeoliscus punctulatus)