Grooved Razorfish, Centriscus scutatus Linnaeus 1758

Other Names: Grooved Razor-fish, Rigid Shrimpfish, Serrate Razorfish, Serrate Razorfish Grooved Razor-fish

Summary:

A silvery razorfish with a reddish-brown to blackish mid-lateral stripe. The main dorsal-fin spine is moderately long and is unjointed.

Grooved Razorfish usually swim head-down in large synchronised groups.

Cite this page as:

Bray, D.J. & Thompson, V.J. 2019, Centriscus scutatus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 25 Apr 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/1511

Grooved Razorfish, Centriscus scutatus Linnaeus 1758

More Info

Distribution	South of Carnarvon, Shark Bay, Western Australia, around the tropical north to Moreton Bay, Queensland. tropical, Indo-west Pacific. Records of this species from southern Queensland may be misidentifications of the Smooth Razorfish, Centriscus cristatus. Elsewhere the species is widespread in the tropical Indo-West Pacific, from the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf to New Guinea, northwards to southern Japan and southwards to eastern Australia. Found over fine sediments like mud or silty sand and known to associate with sea grasses, branching corals, seawhip gardens and black coral Inhabits muddy and silty areas in near coastal reefs, often in association with seagrass beds, branching corals, seawhips and black corals to depths of at least 72 m (in Australia). Adults may form large schools above corals and seawhips.
Features	Dorsal fin III, 10-12; Anal fin 11-12. Body wafer-thin, encased in protective transparent plates, joined by saw-edged sutures along the side of the body; dorsal spine rigid, unjointed; interorbital space with large groove continuing to crown of the head; snout long and tubular. Caudal and soft first dorsal fins placed ventrally; spinous dorsal fin rigid, positioned at rear of body (in usual position of caudal fin).
Size	Maximum length 15 cm.
Colour	Body silver with a reddish to black mid lateral stripe.
Feeding	Feeds mostly on small planktonic crustaceans, especially amphipods and mysids.
Biology	Pelagic eggs and larvae. Juveniles often settle with sea urchins and crinoids. Groups of juveniles may congregate in the surface water along beach edges in protected bays.
Fisheries	Although of no interest to fisheries, the species may be collected for the aquarium industry.
Conservation	IUCN: Least Concern
Etymology	Centriscus is from the Greek, kentris, -idos, meaning sting.
Species Citation	Centriscus scutatus Linnaeus 1758. Systema Naturae: 336. Type locality: Eastern India (as India orientali).
Author	Bray, D.J. & Thompson, V.J. 2019
Resources	Atlas of Living Australia Australian Faunal Directory Catalog of Fishes

Grooved Razorfish, Centriscus scutatus Linnaeus 1758

References

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