denise
08-12-2008, 04:35 PM
There are 3 species of the unmistakable trumpetfish worldwide, but only one, Aulostomus maculatus, lives in Florida.
http://www.dayo.com/images/forum/trumpetfishdebbie_2.jpg
Photo by Debbie Buck
Trumpetfish, is an unusually elongated fish, with a matching tubular snout. They can reach 3 feet in length, with their snout and head accounting for a third of their body length!
Trumpetfish use two clever camouflage tricks to capture prey and avoid their own predators. They are normally a reddish-brown color, but can change their appearance by lighting or darkening their skin color!! They can be a range of colors from yellow, green, purple to blue.
http://www.dayo.com/images/forum/trumpetfishdebbie_1.jpg
Photo by Debbie Buck
Trumpetfish can also be observed swimming in an upright position (snout down) or lying completely motionless to camouflage themselves amongst vertical coral, sea fans and sponges on the reef. They are masters of camouflage and can even swim for extended periods in perfect alignment with other herbivorous fish, waiting for the perfect moment to strike at their unsuspecting prey.
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/grouperandtrumpetfishrebecca_1.jpg
Trumpetfish "stalking" a goliath grouper
They catch smaller fish and shrimp by using their elongated snout. They can expand their snouts diameter, causing a vacuum which allows the trumpetfish to suction up their unsuspecting prey!
The trumpetfishes breeding is no less interesting than their feeding behavior. Using their color changing abilities, females acquire a mate. She then transferrers her eggs to the male who takes care of them until they hatch.....Like the seahorse, the males give birth to the baby trumpetfish.
http://www.divetraining.net/pictures/2011_apr_benpics/benfish_6.jpg
Trumpetfish, Aulostomus maculatus, Key Largo, Florida
Photo by Ben Riley
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/trumpetfishocean.jpg
Solitary trumpetfish, West Palm Beach
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/scotttrumpetfish.jpg
Trumpetfish on the prowl for food, Boynton Beach
Photo by Scott Lapointe
http://www.dayo.com/images/forum/trumpetfishdebbie_2.jpg
Photo by Debbie Buck
Trumpetfish, is an unusually elongated fish, with a matching tubular snout. They can reach 3 feet in length, with their snout and head accounting for a third of their body length!
Trumpetfish use two clever camouflage tricks to capture prey and avoid their own predators. They are normally a reddish-brown color, but can change their appearance by lighting or darkening their skin color!! They can be a range of colors from yellow, green, purple to blue.
http://www.dayo.com/images/forum/trumpetfishdebbie_1.jpg
Photo by Debbie Buck
Trumpetfish can also be observed swimming in an upright position (snout down) or lying completely motionless to camouflage themselves amongst vertical coral, sea fans and sponges on the reef. They are masters of camouflage and can even swim for extended periods in perfect alignment with other herbivorous fish, waiting for the perfect moment to strike at their unsuspecting prey.
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/grouperandtrumpetfishrebecca_1.jpg
Trumpetfish "stalking" a goliath grouper
They catch smaller fish and shrimp by using their elongated snout. They can expand their snouts diameter, causing a vacuum which allows the trumpetfish to suction up their unsuspecting prey!
The trumpetfishes breeding is no less interesting than their feeding behavior. Using their color changing abilities, females acquire a mate. She then transferrers her eggs to the male who takes care of them until they hatch.....Like the seahorse, the males give birth to the baby trumpetfish.
http://www.divetraining.net/pictures/2011_apr_benpics/benfish_6.jpg
Trumpetfish, Aulostomus maculatus, Key Largo, Florida
Photo by Ben Riley
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/trumpetfishocean.jpg
Solitary trumpetfish, West Palm Beach
http://www.scubadiver.cc/fishid/scotttrumpetfish.jpg
Trumpetfish on the prowl for food, Boynton Beach
Photo by Scott Lapointe