TAXONOMY
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
Order: Syngnathiformes (Pipefishes and seahorses)
Family: Centriscidae (Snipefishes and shrimpfishes)

Genus/species: Aeoliscus strigatus

 

GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS: The body is encased in an armor of thin, transparent plates; they swim in synchronized groups, each fish in a vertical position with the snout pointing downwards. Color is golden-yellow with a dark band running the length of the body. The tail fin, terminates in a sharp spine.

Length up to 15 cm (6 in)

DISTRIBUTION/HABITAT: Tropical Indian and western Pacific oceans. Inhabits clear coastal reefs and leeward fringing reefs around offshore islands. Found In small groups swimming and resting with head down near long-spined sea urchins, branching corals or other hiding places to 42 m (140 feet).

DIET IN THE WILD: Minute planktonic crustaceans.

CONSERVATION: IUCN Not Evaluated

REMARKS: A. striates occurs  has been observed hiding in the spines of sea urchins, both as a defense mechanism and as a hunting mechanism. Swims horizontally only when hunting. Otherwise, swim with head down and back facing the direction of travel. If a rival enters their territory, they aim the sharp edge of the belly toward the adversary.

References

California Academy of Sciences Steinhart Aquarium Hidden Reef 2018

Ron’s WordPress Shortlink. https://brianeyes21comcast.net/2017/01/05/4-19-13-shrimpfish-aka-razorfish-from-rons-tropical-marine-series/

fishbase  http://www.fishbase.org/summary/6503

Animal Diversity Web http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Aeoliscus_strigatus/classification/

Ron’s flickr. https://www.flickr.com/photos/cas_docents/30467635696/in/album-72157659465376212/

Fishes of Australia.  http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3163#moreinfo

EOL eol.org/pages/205823/details#distribution