Animalia Life

Fistularia tabacaria
FAMILY
Fistulariidae
TAXONOMY
Fistularia tabacaria Linnaeus, 1758, North Atlantic.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
None known.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
An unmistakable species, with an extremely elongated body and snout (about one-fourth of the body length). Oblique terminal mouth with many minute teeth. Eyes elliptical and large. Small, single, and triangular dorsal fin located far posterior on the back, opposite to the anal fin and with 13–18 rays. Anal fin also triangular, with 13–17 rays. Pectoral fins have 15 or 16 rays. Very small pelvic fins. Caudal fin has two clear forks, with upper and lower lobes divided by a long caudal filament (formed from caudal rays, about as long as the snout). Coloration is greenish brown, with numerous blue spots and some 10 darker cross bars. Caudal filament is blue (coloration can change quickly to mach the background). Reaches up to 5.9 ft (1.8 m) without the caudal filament.
DISTRIBUTION
Occurs in both sides of the tropical and warm temperate Atlantic Ocean. Young are reported to venture into colder temperate waters as far north as Nova Scotia in the Western Atlantic.
HABITAT
A mostly inshore species, occurring down to 656 ft (200 m); adults are found in coral reefs and sea grass meadows, over sandy and rocky bottoms, and even in estuaries.
BEHAVIOR
Mostly unknown. This species does not seek camouflage by aligning itself with objects, as does the trumpetfish. Usually solitary.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
Eats mostly small shrimps and other fishes, which it can swallow whole, head first (by sucking them in a mode known as pipette feeding). Preyed upon by larger bony fishes (e.g., groupers) and sharks.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Little is known of its
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
, but other species of Fistularia lay pelagic eggs in open waters; larval development probably is pelagic as well.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not listed by the IUCN.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
Not frequently consumed but a popular aquarium species.

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