Aeoliscus strigatus, commonly known as ‘striped razorfish‘ or ‘flutefish‘, is a marine fish belonging to the family Centriscidae and the order Syngnathiformes. The epithet ‘strigatus‘ comes from Latin and means ‘striped‘, alluding to the characteristic dark longitudinal bands present on its body. Aeoliscus strigatus is widely distributed in the Indo-Pacific, from the coasts of the Red Sea and East Africa to Japan, Australia and some central Pacific islands. It prefers to inhabit coral reefs, seagrass beds and areas with coral rubble, usually at depths between 1 and 30 meters.
Aeoliscus strigatus is a small fish, with a length generally between 10 and 15 centimeters. It has an elongated, slender and laterally flattened body, which gives it a blade-like appearance, hence its common name. Its body is silver with a dark horizontal band that extends along its length. The dorsal fin is located very close to the back of the body, near the caudal fin, and is almost invisible to the naked eye due to its small size. This fish swims with its head pointing downwards, maintaining an upright position, which is distinctive of the species and helps it camouflage among seagrasses and corals. Aeoliscus strigatus can be differentiated from other similar species, such as Aeoliscus punctulatus, which has a more mottled or spotted pattern.
As for its feeding habits, Aeoliscus strigatus is a carnivorous predator that feeds mainly on small crustaceans and fish larvae. It uses its long, tubular snout, which acts like a suction pipette, to capture its prey in the water or among seagrasses. This fish moves slowly through its habitat, using its upright position to approach its prey undetected, and then quickly sucks in its prey with a sharp movement of its mouth.
Reproduction of Aeoliscus strigatus is oviparous. During the breeding season, which usually coincides with the warmer seasons, individuals aggregate in small schools. Fertilization is external; females release eggs into the water column, where they are fertilized by males. The eggs are pelagic and float in the water until they hatch. The larvae are planktonic and develop on the surface before settling to the bottom and transforming into juveniles. As they grow, they adopt the vertical position characteristic of the species.
A curiosity of Aeoliscus strigatus is its social behavior and its remarkable ability to synchronize its movements in schools. Individuals of this species usually swim together in compact groups, all in the same vertical position and moving in unison, which allows them to confuse potential predators and increase their chances of survival. This coordinated behavior is especially noticeable when they swim among corals and seagrasses, often mimicking the movements of plants to avoid detection. In addition, their slender, translucent shape provides excellent camouflage, making them almost invisible among their natural environment, demonstrating an impressive evolutionary adaptation to avoid predation.
Photos:
from