Description
Also known as Flutemouth, Tobacco Pipefish, Tobbaco Trumpetfish, Trumpetfish, Unarmed Trumpetfish.
Found singly, over hard rocky bottoms and seagrass flats of coastal reefs.
They feed on crustaceans, small fish and invertebrates by stalking their victims!
Length - 120cm
Depth - 0-200m
Widespread Eastern Atlantic, Western Atlantic
Cornetfish swim near the bottom above sand or rubble areas and near reefs during the day, can often be seen in small groups at night in shallow protected areas, these fish are often found hovering close to another fish for protection and for hunting..
They change their colouring to match their surroundings. Ref: https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Fistularia-tabacaria
10 comments
As far as I know these fish are harmless and do not have any barbs on their tails!
Was at the beach in New Bedford, MA on 9-17-2015 and a bunch of students from U MA came down to the beach to catch specimens with a seine net. One of the students showed us what he had in the bucket and was a blue spotted cornfish. It was fascinating to us as none of us had ever seen one or heard of it. Learn something new everyday.
Saw one today 27/1/15 at lake worth florida while snorkling
I've seen these several times when snorkelling in tonga - in large schools.
Just snorkeled with one of these at serrena bay in Cyprus. It was about 4 foot long
Saw one of theses in puerto Rico next to Condado Plazza
Cyprus is full of these. We call them ''trombetes'' or "pithkiavli" which mean flute (the musical instrumen) due to their appearance.
Just saw one on the shore of Hallandale Beach, FL. It changed from light to dark while we were watching it.
Just had one wash up on the shore of Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
I've see lots of these cornetfish when I was snorkeling in Cyprus. Took me some time to identify them because the locals and the sub aqua centres did not seem to have seem/noticed them. They are not listed as a Mediterraen fish but they are definately their. They sort of pulsate different colours to match the seabed a bit octopus like.