FishOccasionalVisible while snorkeling

Trumpetfish

Aulostomus chinensis

The reef's sniper: the tube-mouthed trumpetfish hangs head-down pretending to be a coral branch, or sneaks up on prey hidden behind the back of a bigger fish.

Photo: iNaturalist – (c) Karen Willshaw, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Karen Willshaw

The trumpetfish (Aulostomus chinensis) is an elongated, slightly compressed predator whose head ends in a long, trumpet-like tube – hence the name. A tiny barbel sits on the tip of its chin and a row of dark spots marks the tail base. Its colour is remarkably variable, from brownish grey to greenish marbling, and there is also a striking lemon-yellow morph that glows across the reef from afar.

Its hunting tricks are among the most entertaining scenes on the reef. It often hovers vertically, head-down among coral branches or sea whips, melting perfectly into the pattern before inhaling a passing juvenile fish with lightning speed – the tube mouth works like a pipette. Its other method is shadow-stalking: it presses itself along the back of a parrotfish or grouper and rides it towards unsuspecting prey, which sees no threat in the big, peaceful companion.

Around Hurghada it is not a mass species, but single individuals turn up regularly in the coral gardens – spotting one is a genuine test of your reef eyes, since at first glance it truly looks like a drifting stick. Search the sheltered gardens of the Giftun Islands and among the towers of Gota Abu Ramada and the coral heads of El Aruk. It hunts in the shallows too, so an observant snorkeler can pick one out – especially the yellow morph.

Did you know?

The trumpetfish rides other fish: it presses itself onto the back of a passing parrotfish or grouper and drifts towards its prey in that shadow – the small fish see only the peaceful grazer, never the predator hidden behind it.

Where can you meet it?

It turns up on Hurghada's garden reefs: look for it among the coral heads of the Giftun Islands, Gota Abu Ramada and El Aruk, often shadowing a bigger fish.

Frequently asked questions

Not at all: it has no venomous spines and no biting teeth – its tube mouth is built solely for slurping up tiny fish and shrimps. At most it eyes you with curiosity, then drifts on with dignity.

Do not look for a fish – look for a suspiciously hovering stick: the trumpetfish often stands vertically, head-down among the coral branches. The other trick is to check the backs of larger, slow-swimming fish – every so often a stowaway is riding there.

Yes, because it hunts in the shallow coral gardens too – it just takes a sharp eye. The lemon-yellow morph is the easiest catch for your gaze: it glows in the blue from far away.