Trumpetfish

Common family name

Trumpetfish

Alias

Flutemouth

Scientific name

Aulostomidae

Size

Up to 1 m, average 55 cm

Identification

Long, elongated, slightly compressed body. Long, tubular snout with short barbels on the end. Small mouth in front of a snout. Rounded caudal fin and small pelvic fins. Dorsal and anal fins are close to the tail. Yellow in colour but can change to brown with stripes when hunting.

General Information

Aulostomidae family consists of 1 genus and 3 species. Sometimes confused with Cornetfish, which is smaller and silver. Seen hunting on reefs in a head lowered position. Sometimes use divers as decoys to get to their prey. Suck in the prey by opening their mouths very quickly. Pelagic spawner.

Feeding

Feeds on small schooling reef fish.

Distribution

Occurs in all temperate and tropical oceans of the world.