Cornetfish

The Cornetfish, represented by the Bluespotted Cornetfish (Fistularia commersonii), belongs to the family Fistulariidae, close relatives of trumpetfish and pipefish within the order Syngnathiformes. It ranges widely across the Indo-Pacific and has become an established invasive species in parts of the Mediterranean Sea after entering via the Suez Canal. Cornetfish are known for their extraordinarily elongated, flattened snout and a slender whip-like extension of the tail fin, giving the whole animal a streamlined, needle-like profile that can exceed 1.5 meters. They are a common, widespread species with no special conservation concern, frequently seen by divers hovering just above sand, seagrass, or reef edges.

The Cornetfish's extreme body shape makes it one of the more distinctive reef fish silhouettes.

• Body: extremely long and slender, laterally compressed, tapering smoothly front to back
• Snout: long, flattened, tube-like, much longer than in the related Trumpetfish
• Tail: bears a thin, elongated whip-like filament extending from the center of the caudal fin
• Color: silvery-blue to olive above with a pale lateral stripe and scattered small blue spots
• Size: typically 100-150 cm, occasionally longer The combination of a flattened (not rounded) snout and the whip-like tail filament reliably separates the Cornetfish from the shorter-tailed Trumpetfish.

Cornetfish occur throughout the tropical and subtropical Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and East Africa to Hawaii and Japan, and have expanded into the eastern Mediterranean as a Lessepsian migrant. They inhabit shallow coastal waters from the surface to about 30 meters, favoring open sandy areas, seagrass meadows, and the fringes of coral and rocky reefs. Cornetfish are often seen hovering just above the substrate in loose small groups or singly, moving into slightly deeper water as juveniles mature. They prefer warm, clear water and show tolerance for a range of habitats from lagoons to outer reef slopes, making them one of the more adaptable members of their family.

Cornetfish hunt by stealth, slowly approaching schools of small fish or hovering motionless above sand and seagrass before striking with a rapid sideways snap of the elongated snout to engulf prey. They are capable of quick bursts of speed despite their otherwise slow, drifting movement, and often orient their body horizontally or at a slight downward angle while stalking. Individuals may be solitary or loosely aggregated in small groups, particularly over open sand flats. As an invasive species in the Mediterranean, the Bluespotted Cornetfish has shown notably flexible feeding and habitat use, contributing to its rapid spread. Reproduction involves pelagic spawning, with eggs and larvae drifting in open water before juveniles settle into shallow habitat.