Atlantic Trumpetfish, Aulostomus maculatus
Atlantic Trumpetfish, Aulostomus maculatus. Underwater photograph taken in coastal waters of Yal-Ku, Quintana Roo, April 2016. Photograph and identification courtesy of Juan Rojo, Akumal.
The Atlantic Trumpetfish, Aulostomus maculatus, is a member of the Trumpetfish or Aulostomidae Family, that is also known as the Caribbean Trumpetfish and the West Atlantic Trumpetfish and in Mexico as trompeta del Atlántico and trompeta pinctada. Globally, there are three species in the Aulostomus Genus, of which two are found in Mexican waters, one in the Atlantic and one in the Pacific Ocean.
The Atlantic Trumpetfish has a very elongated and laterally compressed bodies with a long tubular snout that has an upturned mouth with small jaws and a strongly compressed head. They lack significant teeth. The Atlantic Trumpetifish is normally a mottled brown to reddish brown with irregular black or brown spots. Some fish may be blue-gray, bright yellow or green and they can easily change color to blend into their surroundings. They have silvery streaks along the head and the sides of the body. They have a black bar at the base of the anal and dorsal fins although this bar may occasionally be reduced to a spot. The caudal fin may have one or two spots. They have a distinguished barbel at the tip of its lower jaw. Their anal fin is set well back in the body opposite the dorsal fin and has 21 to 25 rays; their caudal peduncle is narrow and the caudal fin is rounded; there first dorsal fin is set well back in the body and has 8 to 12 isolated spines; their second dorsal fin has 12 to 25 rays; and, they have short pelvic fins mid-body set well behind the pectoral fins that reach the anus. They are covered with small rough scales.
The Atlantic Trumpetfish is a slow-moving benthopelagic diurnal solitary species found in calm clear coastal waters within coral reefs and seagrass beds at depths up to 300 m (1,000 feet). They are resilient and about to use other habitats such as rocky reefs. They reach a maximum of 1.00 m (39.4 inches) in length. The Atlantic Trumpetfish is herbivorous that are solitary hunters that rely heavily on camouflage to stalk its prey since they are poor swimmers. They are lay in wait ambush predators that capture their prey via a suction action with their mouth having elastic tissues that allows the mouth to open to diameter of the body. They are known to associate with the Blue Parrotfish, Scarus coeruleus, and the Striped Parrotfish, Scarus iseri, which helps them avoid predation. They are commonly found in close proximity to coral reefs swimming vertically with their snouts hanging down to allow them to blend in with pipe sponges, sea fans and sea whips. They prey on a wide variety of blennies, damselfishes, goatfishes, gobies, grunts, squirrelfishes and wrasses and shrimp. In turn they are preyed upon by large groupers and large snappers, They are known to sleep in groups to provide protection. Reproduction is oviparous with external fertilizaton and includes an elaborate dance changing colors to attract mates. The females lay eggs and give them to a male of her choice to fertilize and protect in a specialized pouch on their stomach until they hatch. The eggs and larvae are pelagic. The Atlantic Trumptfish is poorly studied with very limited information available about their lifestyle and behavioral patterns including specific details on age, diet, growth, habitat, longevity, movement patterns, and reproduction.
The Atlantic Trumpetfish has a widespread range being found in all Mexican waters of the Atlantic Ocean with the exception that they are absent from north of Tuxpan along the northwest coast of the Gulf of Mexico.
The Atlantic Trumpetfish can be confused with the Red Cornetfish, Fistulari petimba (a uniform red]-brown color) and the Bluespotted Cornetfish, Fistularia tabacaria (gray with blue spots).
From a conservation perspective the Atlantic Trumpetfish is currently considered to be of Least Concern, however, they are considered to be naturally rare and have decreasing populations but have widely distributed populations. They are considered to play an important role in the balance of a fragile marine environment. Their long-term survival is currently threatened by degradation of their habitat including the loss of coral reefs that they regularly frequent Although not of commercial importance, the trumpetfish is caught incidentally throughout its range in seines and traps. It is marketed locally for human consumption on a limited regional basis. It is also a utilized as a popular display fish at public aquariums due to its in interesting body shape and habits. They are known to be prey to the newly introduced highly invasive Common Lionfish, Pterois miles and the Red Lionfish, Pterois volitans.