Family: AULOSTOMIDAE, Trumpetfishes
boy elongate, compressed
D1: VIII-XIII isolated spines
C round
chin barbel
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 Indo-Pacific species occurs in our region.
