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Bluespotted cornetfish (Fistularia tabacaria) — Fistulariidae

Bluespotted cornetfish

Fistularia tabacaria
Family: Fistulariidae
LC · Least Concern

The Bluespotted cornetfish (Fistularia tabacaria) is a saltwater fish of the family Fistulariidae that grows up to 200 cm.

Length
200 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0–200.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Open water
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Rarely eaten

Description

The bluespotted cornetfish is a very long, thin fish of the family Fistulariidae (cornetfishes) that can reach about 2 metres long but stays extremely slender. The snout is extended into a long tube with a small mouth at the end, with which the fish sucks up prey; rows of blue spots run over the brown-green back, and the tail ends in a long, thread-like filament. The species lives above sand bottoms, seagrass beds and reefs of coastal water of the Atlantic on both sides, also around the Macaronesian islands. It often hovers motionless in wait and then sucks in small fish and shrimps in a flash. Because of its bizarre shape it is unmistakable.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Bluespotted cornetfish?

The Bluespotted cornetfish has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a spots pattern.

Where does the Bluespotted cornetfish live?

The Bluespotted cornetfish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around open water.

How big does the Bluespotted cornetfish get?

The Bluespotted cornetfish grows to a maximum of about 200 cm. On average the species is around 120 cm.

Is the Bluespotted cornetfish dangerous to humans?

No, the Bluespotted cornetfish is harmless to humans.

Is the Bluespotted cornetfish edible?

The Bluespotted cornetfish is rarely eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Vioolvis verified
English name
Bluespotted cornetfish verified
Scientific name
Fistularia tabacaria
Family
Fistulariidae
Other names
Bluespotted cornetfish; Cornet fish verified

Appearance

Size class
Extra large verified
Max length (cm)
200.0 verified
Average length (cm)
120.0 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) verified
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Spots sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Beak-shaped inferred
Lips
Thin inferred
Barbels
No verified
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No verified

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater verified
Substrate
Open water verified
Max depth (m)
200.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore verified
Social behaviour
Solitary verified
Territorial
No verified
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes verified
Sexual dimorphism
No verified

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten verified
Fishing method
Sportvissen met kunstaas of (dood/levend) aasvis door te trollen, te werpen of drijvend te vissen in open water. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Fistularia

More from the family Fistulariidae

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