Jointed Razorfish, Aeoliscus strigatus (Günther 1861)

Other Names: Coral Shrimpfish, Jointed Razor-fish, Razor Fish, Razorfish, Shrimpfish, Striped Shrimpfish

Jointed Razorfish, Aeoliscus strigatus, at Sorong, Raja Ampat Islands, West Papua, Indonesia, depth 6 m. Source: orangkucing / http://orangkucing.tumblr.com/. License: CC by Attribution-ShareAlike

Summary:

The remarkable Jointed Razorfish has a rigid ‘razor-thin’ body encased in transparent 'armour', a long pointed snout and a jointed dorsal-fin spine. They are yellowish-brown to pale green on the back, and silvery on the sides, with a dark mid-lateral stripe along the body. The first dorsal-fin spine is 'jointed' or hinged and often held at an angle to the body. Jointed Razorfish often swim in large synchronised schools, and seek refuge amongst coral branches or sea urchin spines.

Cite this page as:

Dianne J. Bray & Vanessa J. Thompson, Aeoliscus strigatus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 20 Apr 2024, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3163

Jointed Razorfish, Aeoliscus strigatus (Günther 1861)

More Info

Distribution	Tropical Indo-West Pacific, from East Africa to Australia and north to southern Japan. Known in Australian waters from the tip of Cape York, northern Queensland to northern NSW. This schooling species lives on coral reefs in sheltered bays and lagoons on the continental shelf at 1–42 m. Jointed Razorfish live in association with a variety of invertebrates such as Acropora corals, gorgonians, black corals, sea whips, Diadema sea urchins and seagrasses.
Features	Meristic features: Dorsal fin III, 10; Anal fin 12; Pectorla fin 11–12; Pelvic fin 4. Body elongate, extremely compressed, encased in protective transparent sutured plates; ventral edge very compressed, 'sharp'; interorbital space striated, convex, longtitudinal agroove absent; snout long and tubular; mouth small, teeth absent; lateral line absent. Caudal and soft dorsal fins situated ventrally; spinous dorsal fin hinged, and positioned at end of body where the caudal fin is usually found.
Size	To 15 cm.
Colour	Colour varies with habitat,ranging from a silvery greenish- to yellowish-brown, or quite pale. Individuals living amongst seagrasses have tend to be more greenish-yellow body with a diffused longitudinal stripe from the snout to the tail fin. Those in sandy or rubble habitats are often paler with a black longitudinal stripe.
Feeding	Carnivoer - feeds on tiny planktonic invertebrates, especially crustaceans.
Biology	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.
Fisheries	The Jointed Razorfish may be taken as bycatch in commerical fisheries. Although this species is collected for the aquarium industry, individuals are difficult to keep in captivity.
Conservation	Not evaluated.
Remarks	Razorfish usually swim in a head-down position, moving in the direction of their dorsal surface.
Similar Species	Jointed Razorfish differ from members of the genus Centriscus in having a jointed, versus a rigid first dorsal-fin spine. The other species of Aeoliscus, A. punctulatus, occurs in the Western Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, and differs in having small black spots over body.
Etymology	Aeoliscus is derived from Aeolius, a region from Asia Minor and Aeolus, the Greek god of winds. The species name strigata is from the Latin meaning stripe in reference to the dark stripe along the sides.
Species Citation	Amphisile strigata Günther 1861, Cat. Fish. Brit. Mus. 3: 528. Type localith: Java, Indonesia.
Author	Dianne J. Bray & Vanessa J. Thompson

Jointed Razorfish, Aeoliscus strigatus (Günther 1861)

References

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