Chinese Trumpetfish

Description Long and slender body, with a long tubular snout. Color variable from mottled green to brown with indistinct bars and stripes, white spots on posterior portion of body. A bright yellow form is uncommon.

Size To 75 cm (2.6 ft)

Habitat, behavior and biology: On rock and coral reefs, from 2 m (6 ft) to at least 30 m (100 ft). Usually solitaty, but sometimes with another individual. Feeds on small to medium-sized fishes by expanding the tubular snout into a trumpet shape and sucking in the unfortunate fish. Curious,
often hangs motionless in an upside-down, vertical position next to a coral, sponge or sea fan. Sometimes swims close to and above a grouper or parrotfish or in a school of smaller fishes, using the fish or school as a moving "blind" in order to approach prey fish undetected.

Abundance Common.

Distribution Indo.Pacific, in tropical and subtropical waters, in eastern
Pacific, at off-lying islands.

Similar species Aulostomus maculates occurs in the Atlantic.