A worldwide community photographing and learning about wildlife
Aulostomus chinensis
Long, usually grey or brown, tube-shaped fish that preys on other fish and sometimes crustaceans. Can change its colour to remain unnoticed by its prey. Grows up to 27 inches long. Native to Indo-Pacific and Eastern Pacific.
Photo #1 shows a Pacific Trumpetfish hanging out with a Yellow Tang (Zebrasoma flavescens), changing to bright yellow to remain part of the school. Photo #2 shows the more common grey colour but this fish also exhibits the longitudinal stripes that these fish also use for camouflage. Very cool fish! They are easy to spot from the side, but from head-on, which is the way the targetfish would see it, the trumpetfish is almost impossible to see enabling it to approach very close to its food.
No Comments