Snipefish

The snipefishes (genus Macroramphosus)^[1] are two species of fishes found in tropical and subtropical oceans at depth down to 600 metres (2,000 ft). According to FishBase, they are part of the family Centriscidae, but some authorities split that family, in which case the genus Macroramphosus is in the family Macroramphosidae. They have a long second spine on the dorsal fin and a tiny mouth at the tip of a greatly elongated snout. Their body is more streamlined than in the related bellowfishes. They reach a maximum length of approximately 20 centimetres (7.9 in), and are silvery or reddish in colour. They are sometimes found in large schools.

Species

• Slender snipefish or snipefish, Macroramphosus gracilis (Lowe, 1839).
• Longspine snipefish, bellowfish, common bellowsfish, snipe-fish, snipefish, spine trumpet fish or trumpetfish, Macroramphosus scolopax (Linnaeus, 1758).

References