Species: Aulorhynchus flavidus, The Tubesnout

Aulorhynchus flavidus Gill, 1861

Tubesnout

Body elongate, slender, almost cylindrical; tail base very slender, depressed; head large, elongate; mouth small, horizontal, at the end of a long, flexible tubular snout that is ~1/2 head length; teeth in a single row on both jaws; roof of mouth toothless; nostril with raised rim, well before eye; dorsal fin consists of a set of XXIV-XXVII isolated, very short spines beginning above pectoral fin, soft dorsal (9-10) over and similar in size & form to anal fin (I, 9)  both fins towards rear of body, oblong, with raised front; tail fin small, forked; pectoral fins (i,18,i) triangular, with indented rear edge; pelvics small, inserted just behind pectoral base, I,5; no scales; lateral line complete, a series of short canals.

Pale mottled brown/olive green/yellow brown or blue above, creamy white below; a bright silver patch covering lower head behind eye and front of belly, a dark stripe above that extending along snout; breeding males have  blue snouts, blue spots & red pelvics.

Reaches 18 cm.

Lives near bottom in rocky, well vegetated shorelines.

Depth range: 0-30 m.

Alaska to northern Baja; vagrant at Clipperton.