Longspine snipefish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Longspine snipefish |
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The longspine snipefish, bellowfish, common bellowsfish, snipe-fish, snipefish, spine trumpet fish, or trumpetfish, Macroramphosus scolopax, is a snipefish of the genus Macroramphosus. It is also known as the slender snipefish off the South African coast.
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Distribution
This fish is found worldwide in tropical to subtropical water in the Atlantic, Indian, and west Pacific Oceans, at depths of 25 to 600 m (82 to 1,969 ft)ea. It has also been observed in the eastern Pacific off Santa Catalina Island, California.
Description
Longspine snipefish are reddish pink dorsally but have silvery bellies. They have a large eye, long snouts and a slender spine protruding dorsally.
Ecology
The longspine snipefish feeds on crustacean zooplankton such as copepods and ostracods, as well as benthic invertebrates.
In the month-long NORFANZ Expedition of 2003 which examined the biodiversity of the seamounts and slopes of the Norfolk Ridge, 5000 specimens averaging 78 g (2.8 oz) were collected from three locations.
Reproduction
Courting males follow and swim parallel to the female. Courting males change color and act aggressively with other males prior to this process.
