Fistularia tabacaria Linnaeus, 1758
Cornetfish
Fistularia tabacaria
photo by Wirtz, P.

Family:  Fistulariidae (Cornetfishes)
Max. size:  200 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 279.0 g
Environment:  reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range - 200 m
Distribution:  Eastern Atlantic: Cape Blanc and Cape Verde to Angola. Western Atlantic: Bermuda, Georges Bank, and southern Canada to Brazil (Ref. 7251). Gulf of Mexico, Antilles, Central and South American coasts Ref. (26938).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 14-16; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 14-16; Vertebrae: 87-87. Color in life brownish above, lighter below, with a series of pale blue spots from head to dorsal fin on midline of back, row of blue spots lateral to the mid-dorsal row and two lateral rows of blue spots on snout. First four vertebrae fused (Ref. 9826). Middle caudal rays extended as a long filament; no scales or fin spines. No barbel at tip of lower jaw (Ref. 26938)
Biology:  A solitary species (Ref. 26340) occurs over grass flats and reefs, and on hard and rocky bottoms (Ref. 5377). Feeds on fishes, small crustaceans (Ref. 6557) or invertebrates.
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 29 January 2013 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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