Marine Life

Red cornet fish

Raiy onugandu tholhi

Fistularia petimba

A specimen of Fistularia petimba, which served as the basis for this report, was found in the stomach of a yellowfin tuna caught by R. V. "Matha Hari" approximately 30 nautical miles east of Lhaviyani Atoll. Despite being partially digested, it could be identified by its red color and the pattern of spines on its snout.

Details

§ 01

size: Common to 1 m; max. 2 m
color: Red to orange brown above, silvery below. Vertical fins also have an orange cast.
order: Gasterosteiformes
family: Fistularidae
image url: https://assets.explore.mv/fishes/fistularia-petimba.png
habitat and biology: This species is typically found in coastal regions, inhabiting soft substrates at depths of more than 30 m. Its diet consists mainly of small fish and shrimp.
distinctive characters: This fish has a dorsal fin with 14-17 rays, an anal fin with 14-15 rays, and a pectoral fin with 15-17 rays. Its body is elongated with a mouth at the end of a long tubular snout, and there is a row of bony plates along the top of its body in front of the dorsal fin. Additionally, there are small spines along the posterior part of its lateral line and forward-pointing spines on its snout ridges, which are parallel to each other.