Description:

Dorsal spines: 0; Dorsal rays: 14-17; Anal spines: 0; Anal rays: 14-16.

Body very elongate, dorsoventrally flattened rather than laterally compressed. Head long, eye large with anteriorly elongate pupils. Small terminal mouth at tip of narrow 
tubular snout. Single opposing dorsal and anal fins of similar appearance far posterior on body. Caudal fin forked with long filament extending from centre.

Colour. Greenish-grey to brown dorsally, lighter ventrally. Two blue stripes or rows of blue spots dorsally along spine and a second blue pair of blue stripes laterally. 
The caudal filament is white. Individuals become broadly banded at night.

Size:

Maturity: Lm unknown. Range unknown. Max Length: 160cm TL, commonly to 100cm TL.

Habitat and Ecology:

Adults inhabit reef habits, seagrass beds and adjacent sandy areas (depth 0-132m), commonly encountered in shallow coastal waters. Feed on small fishes, crustaceans and 
squids. Feeds mainly on fish with direct relationship between its length and size of prey. The long tubular snout is a very efficient device for sucking in small fishes 
which are a major food source. Occurs solitary or in schools. Sexes separate, oviparous, spawning pelagic.

Fishery Status:

This species is not protected or subject to fishery regulations. It is caught occasionally as bycatch in net fisheries.

Notes:

 

 

References:

Bray, D.J. & Thompson, V.J. Fistularia commersonii in Fishes of Australia, http://136.154.202.208/home/species/1507 (31/03/20)
Froese, R. & D. Pauly. (Eds.) (2020). FishBase. Fistularia commersonii https://www.fishbase.se/summary/5444 (31/03/20).
Pollom, R. (2016). Fistularia commersonii (errata version 2017). The IUCN Red List 2016: https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T18257780A88675577.en. (31/03/20).

Citation:

Nevill, J.E.G. (2020). Fistularia commersonii, Bluespotted cornetfish. Seychelles Seatizens. www.seatizens.sc. https://seatizens.sc/species/fistularia-commersonii-ruppell-1838/ (edited 03/07/22).