Pearly razorfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pearly razorfish |
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| Xyrichtys novacula, a Mediterranean Sea specimen at the Civic Aquarium of Milan | |
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| Xyrichtys novacula in the Atlantic Ocean, Southeast U.S. | |
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The pearly razorfish (Xyrichtys novacula), also called the cleaver wrasse, is a cool type of wrasse fish. People sometimes catch them for food, but they are not a huge part of fishing. They are also popular for sport fishing, which means people like to catch them for fun! You might even see them in big aquariums.
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What Does the Pearly Razorfish Look Like?
The pearly razorfish can grow up to about 38 centimeters (15 inches) long. That's about the length of a school ruler! But most of them are usually around 20 centimeters (8 inches) long. Their bodies are long and very flat from side to side. Their heads are also flat, with a sharp slope and pointy teeth.
They have a long fin on their back that goes along most of their body. This fin has 9 stiff spines and 12 soft rays. They also have 3 spines and 12 soft rays on their anal fin (the fin on their belly).
These fish are often yellow-orange or reddish-pink. Their backs are usually darker, and their bellies are lighter. Sometimes, they even have green and gray stripes! Their heads might have thin, light blue lines. When they are caught, these fish can turn their mouths and sharp teeth more than 90 degrees to the side. This is their way of trying to get free!
Where Does the Pearly Razorfish Live?
The pearly razorfish lives in many places across the Atlantic Ocean, both in the west and east. You can also find them in the Mediterranean Sea. They like clear, shallow areas near the coast where the bottom is sandy or muddy. They usually live in water that is 1 to 20 meters (3 to 65 feet) deep. When winter comes, they move to deeper waters, sometimes as deep as 90 to 150 meters (300 to 500 feet)!
How Does the Pearly Razorfish Behave and What Does It Eat?
When a pearly razorfish feels scared or bothered, it can quickly bury itself in the sand or mud at the bottom of the ocean. This helps them hide from danger!
They like to eat small creatures without backbones. These include things like crustaceans (like tiny crabs or shrimp), molluscs (like small snails or clams), and echinoderms (like sea urchins or starfish).
Who Eats the Pearly Razorfish?
The pearly razorfish can be a tasty meal for other bigger fish. For example, the Greater Amberjack (which is also called a "reef donkey") is known to eat pearly razorfish.
