Cornetfish

The cornetfishes or flutemouths[3] are a small family, the Fistulariidae, of extremely elongated fishes in the order Syngnathiformes. The family consists of a single genus, Fistularia, with four species, found worldwide in tropical and subtropical marine environments.

Cornetfish
Temporal range: 33–0 Ma Early Oligocene to Present[1]
Fistularia tabacaria
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Syngnathiformes
Suborder: Aulostomoidei
Superfamily: Aulostomoidea
Family: Fistulariidae
Blainville, 1818
Genus: Fistularia
Linnaeus, 1758
Type species
Fistularia tabacaria
Linnaeus, 1758
Species

See text.

Synonyms[2]

Ranging up to 200 cm (6.6 ft) in length, cornetfishes are as thin and elongated as many eels, but are distinguished by very long snouts, distinct dorsal and anal fins, and forked caudal fins whose center rays form a lengthy filament. The lateral line is well-developed and extends onto the caudal filament.[4]

They generally live in coastal waters or on coral reefs, where they feed on small fishes, crustaceans, and other invertebrates.[4]

Cornetfish are of minor interest for fishing, and can be found in local markets within their range.

Species

Currently, four recognized species are placed in this genus:[5]

References
  1. Sepkoski, Jack (2002). "A compendium of fossil marine animal genera". Bulletins of American Paleontology. 364: 560. Archived from the original on 2009-02-20. Retrieved 2007-12-25.
  2. Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Species in the genus Fistularia". Catalog of Fishes. California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  3. Fishes of Australia, FISTULARIIDAE Flutemouths (Museum Victoria)
  4. Orr, J.W.; Pietsch, T.W. (1998). Paxton, J.R.; Eschmeyer, W.N. (eds.). Encyclopedia of Fishes. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 170–171. ISBN 0-12-547665-5.
  5. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2012). Species of Fistularia in FishBase. October 2012 version.
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