Description:

Dorsal spines: 3; Dorsal rays: 9-10; Anal spines: 0; Anal rays: 12.

Body elongate, extremely compressed, encased in protective transparent sutured plates. Snout long and tubular, mouth small without teeth. Caudal and soft dorsal fins situated
ventrally. Spinous dorsal fin hinged, and positioned at end of body where the caudal fin is usually found and often held at an angle to the body.

Colour varies with habitat ranging from a silvery greenish- to yellowish-brown, or quite pale with a dark mid-lateral stripe along the body.

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 15cm TL.

Inhabits coral reefs in sheltered bays and lagoons (depth 0-42m). Forms schools that swim in synchronised groups, vertically with heads oriented downward, among branching 
corals, the spines of sea urchins, and in seagrass beds. Feeds on crustacean zooplankton. Larger individuals feed primarily on gammaridean amphipods, juveniles feed 
predominantly on planktonic copepods. Oviparous, sexes separate, fertilisation external. Eggs and larvae are pelagic, juveniles settle at about 20 mm in length, often 
within the spines of the sea urchin Diadema.

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is not caught in the artisanal fishery.

Bray, D.J. & Thompson, V.J. Aeoliscus strigatus in Fishes of Australia, http://136.154.202.208/home/species/3163 (30/03/20).
Cameron, C. & Pollom, R. (2016). Aeoliscus strigatus. The IUCN Red List 2016: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T65135062A67618768.en. (30/03/20).
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2020). FishBase. Aeoliscus strigatus https://www.fishbase.se/summary/6503 (30/03/20).

Nevill, J.E.G. (2020). Aeoliscus strigatus, Razorfish. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/aeoliscus-strigatus-gunther-1861/ (edited 28/06/22).