The trumpetfish, Aulostomus chinensis, is known locally as the nunu. It inhabits waters both shallow and deep (just over 100 m), and can reach lengths of three feet or so. They adopt a few hunting strategies to nab their prey - usually reef fish or shrimp. They might hang motionless in the water, in sync with the wave action, and then lunge forward, inflating their trumpet-like mouth and vacuuming up their meal. Or, they might sneak alongside a school of grazing surgeonfishes to get within striking distance. Another tactic is to hover vertically against the backdrop of branching coral. They can also change their coloration from greyish to yellow, or an orange-brown. The dorsal and anal fins are set back towards the tail, and small movements of these fins can propel it forward and back. Distinguishing features of the trumpet fish include a fan-shaped caudal (tail) fin and a barbel on the chin.
If you've done any snorkeling, you've probably seen this guy. Long and slender, both a bit wary and bold. But just which stick fish is it? A trumpetfish? A cornetfish? Or perhaps a needlefish? Well here's a little bit of background info to help you figure it out. The trumpetfish, Aulostomus chinensis, is known locally as the nunu. It inhabits waters both shallow and deep (just over 100 m), and can reach lengths of three feet or so. They adopt a few hunting strategies to nab their prey - usually reef fish or shrimp. They might hang motionless in the water, in sync with the wave action, and then lunge forward, inflating their trumpet-like mouth and vacuuming up their meal. Or, they might sneak alongside a school of grazing surgeonfishes to get within striking distance. Another tactic is to hover vertically against the backdrop of branching coral. They can also change their coloration from greyish to yellow, or an orange-brown. The dorsal and anal fins are set back towards the tail, and small movements of these fins can propel it forward and back. Distinguishing features of the trumpet fish include a fan-shaped caudal (tail) fin and a barbel on the chin. The blue-spotted cornetfish, Fistularia commersonii, is related to the trumpet fish, as are sea horses and pipe fish, all of which posses a flared, trumpet-like mouth. While the trumpetfish tends to be solitary, the cornetfish can be found alone or in small schools. Distinguishing features include a whip-like extension at the end of the tail (called a caudal filament), and bluish dots along their pale bule-green bodies. They also grow larger than the trumpetfish, up to four or more feet. The needlefish, or 'aha, can also reach sizes of three feet or so, but they have a long, beak-like mouth with many teeth. Their dorsal fin is set way back on the body. They are a schooling fish that prefer to travel near the ocean's surface, and can "fly" by leaping out of the water at speeds as fast as 38 miles per hour. Needlefish can pose a danger to humans, especially since they are attracted to the light of night fishermen, hurling themselves up and over boats at these tremendous speeds. So there you have it. The skinny on stick fish, and our photo feature: Fistularia commersonii.
4 Comments
I saw a large 5 foot trumpetfish off the coast of Lapauhoehoe Beach Park on Big Island Hawai'i the other day
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John
1/22/2019 08:40:16 am
Today I found myself surrounded by a school of cornetfish in the shallows of a lagoon. Intimidating.
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Chuck
2/22/2024 07:39:51 pm
Shore fishing on Big Island the blue spotted cornet fish are a frequent catch. Actually, too frequent. They are obviously well distributed and an aggressive predator. Largest was 4.5 feet and quite impressive. I had a first-time-to-Hawaii family ask me if it was a dinosaur. Tempting as it was to create a great story for the European visitors, I ended up telling the truth and had the family’s young son assist me in returning it to the sea.
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