Aulostomus maculatus

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West Atlantic trumpetfish

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Syngnathiformes
Family: Aulostomidae
Genus: Aulostomus
Species:
A. maculatus
Binomial name
Aulostomus maculatus
Synonyms[2]

Aulostomus maculatus, the West Atlantic trumpetfish, is a long-bodied fish with an upturned mouth. It often swims vertically while trying to blend with vertical coral, such as sea rods, sea pens, and pipe sponges.

Description

A brown trumpetfish

Aulostomus maculatus is closely related to

caudal fin is rounded.[3] The most commonly encountered color of A. maculatus is mottled brown to reddish brown with irregular black or brown spots. They may also be blue-gray, bright yellow or green and this species has the ability to change its color to camouflage itself. The head and flanks have transverse silvery streaks and the base of the dorsal and anal fins have a black bar which is sometimes reduced to a spot. There may be one or two spots on the tail.[3]

A. maculatus grow to a maximum reported length of 100 centimetres (39 in) in total length, although 60 centimetres (24 in) is more common.[3]

Distribution

Aulostomus maculatus is widespread throughout the

Aulostomus strigosus.[1]

Habitat and biology

Trumpetfish is a largely

Bluehead wrasse (Thalassoma bifasciatum).[3] Shrimp will also be taken. Stegastes planifrons often aggressively attack trumpetfish but these attacks do not appear to disrupt the trumpetfish's hunting. Normally solitary hunters, trumpetfish frequently associate with schools of striped parrotfish (Scarus iseri) to avoid attacks from S. planifrons and in these circumstances they have higher feeding rates than solitary fish.[1]

Trumpetfish at Molasses Reef, Florida Keys

Human use

Aulostomus maculatus is probably a minor part of the aquarium trade. It is often caught in seines and traps by fisheries, to which it is of minor commercial interest.[1]

Conservation

The global decline of coral reefs and seagrass beds, and especially those occurring in the Caribbean is a threat to this species, as is predation by invasive lionfish,

IUCN.[1]

References

  1. ^
    doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T16421352A16509812.en
    . Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  2. ^ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species related to Aulostomus maculatus". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "Aulostomus maculatus". Florida Museum. 5 May 2017.
  4. ^ Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2006). "Aulostomus maculatus" in FishBase. April 2006 version.
  5. ^ "Aulostomus maculatus Trumpetfish". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 20 April 2018.

External links

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