Family: AULOSTOMIDAE, Trumpetfish, Trumpetfishes

FAMILY AULOSTOMIDAE

TRUMPETFISHES

Medium sized fishes (~ 80 cm); body very elongate, somewhat compressed; head strongly compressed; snout very long, tubular; barbel on chin; no teeth on top jaw, tiny teeth on lower jaw; 1st dorsal fin with VIII-XIII small, isolated spines; 2nd dorsal and anal fins with 21-25 rays; pelvic fins well behind pectorals, short but reach anus; soft dorsal and anal opposite at rear of body, fins similar in shape and relatively high; narrow tail base; tail fin rounded; scales small, rough.

This small circumtropical family contains three species in a single genus; one endemic species in our region.