Bluespotted Cornetfish
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- Name / Latin
- Bluespotted Cornetfish — Fistularia commersonii
- Brief description
- Fistularia commersonii (bluespotted cornetfish) is a very elongated reef fish from the cornetfish family (Fistulariidae) with a tubular snout and long tail filament. Coloration is usually silvery-green/bluish-gray with blue lines or rows of dots; found near reefs and over sandy areas adjacent to them. Maximum length up to 160 cm, more commonly around 100 cm.
- Size:
- up to 160 cm
- Depth:
- 0–132 m
- Habitat:
- Indo-Pacific region, Red Sea
- Family:
- Fistulariidae
- Type:
- Fish
- Activity:
- Diurnal
- Conservation status:
- Least Concern (LC) — not threatened with extinction according to IUCN assessment; assessment date 21 January 2016
Fistularia commersonii, also known as the bluespotted cornetfish or bluespotted flutemouth, is a distinctive, elongated fish inhabiting tropical and subtropical coral reefs. It inhabits coral reefs, seagrass beds, and coastal lagoons. Usually found in the Indo-Pacific region, from the Red Sea and East Africa to Hawaii and from Japan to New South Wales.
They are found in various lengths: mainly adults reach up to 1 m in length, but sometimes specimens up to 1.5 meters are encountered. Their body is covered with small ctenoid (a type of bony scale of bony fish) scales. It has a very interesting appearance: an elongated body, a long head with large jaws – the jaws occupy almost a quarter of the total body length. The main body coloration is silvery with a bluish tint, the back is greenish.
Fistularias usually reproduce in warm waters. They reproduce through external fertilization: females release eggs into the water, and males simultaneously release sperm, leading to fertilization. The eggs are pelagic, meaning they float in the water column until hatching. The larvae are also pelagic and go through several stages before settling in reef zones.
Fistularias are predators and feed mainly on small fish and crustaceans. They use their elongated snouts to quickly suck in prey.
The bluespotted flutemouth usually poses no danger to divers. They are shy and tend to avoid contact with humans. However, like all marine inhabitants, they should be observed from a distance to avoid stress to the animal or an unintended reaction.
