Centriscus cristatus

Centriscus cristatus
Smooth Razorfish (C. cristatus)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Syngnathiformes
Family: Centriscidae
Genus: Centriscus
Species: C. cristatus
Binomial name
Centriscus cristatus
(De Vis, 1885) [1]

Centriscus cristatus, also known as the smooth razorfish,is the tallest member of the family Centriscidae of the order Syngnathiformes.

Description

The smooth razorfish possesses a body at the same time very stretched and compressed laterally, it can reach a size of maximum 30 cm.[2] Its snout is long and tubular. Its fins are translucent and the dorsal spine is rigid. Its body coloration is bright silver with a dusky to yellow middle line and with bluish streaks perpendicular to the median line.[3]

Distribution & habitat

Centriscus cristatus is found in the central Indo-Pacific area between in the west the western Indonesia until the Marshall Islands to the east, and the Australian shore (west, north and east) New-Caledonia included for the southern limit to the south Japan in the northern limit. It likes shallow coastal waters and estuaries until 10 m depth.[4]

Biology

It occurs solitary or in small groups,swimming head down but can adopted an horizontal fast swimming posture in case of danger. It feeds on small planktonic crustaceans, particularly ampipoda and mysids.[3]


References

  1. Grant, E.M., 1986. Guide to fishes. Reprinted edition. The Department of Harbours and Marine. Brisbane, Queensland. 896 p.
  2. 1 2 Thompson, Vanessa; Bray, Dianne. "Smooth Razorfish, Centriscus cristatus". Fishes of Australia. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  3. Allen, G.R. and M.V. Erdmann, 2012. Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth, Australia: Universitiy of Hawai'i Press, Volumes I-III. Tropical Reef Research.

External links

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