trumpetfish

[ truhm-pit-fish ]

noun

, plural (especially collectively) trum·pet·fish, (especially referring to two or more kinds or species) trum·pet·fish·es.

1. any of several fishes of the family Aulostomidae, having a long, tubular snout, as the slender, brown-flecked Aulostomus maculatus, inhabiting waters on both sides of the tropical Atlantic Ocean, having the habit of orienting vertically in the water and capturing its prey from that position.

Word History and Origins

Origin of trumpetfish¹

First recorded in 1660–70; trumpet + fish

Example Sentences

Dr. Matchette had heard reports of the trumpetfish's clever hunting technique.

From DOGO News

Found in tropical waters worldwide, trumpetfish are elongated creatures with long snouts, which they use to swallow small fish and shrimp.

From DOGO News

When the trumpetfish model was pulled along the wire, the nearby damselfish swam up to inspect it but then quickly fled, clearly perceiving it as a threat.

From New York Times

We watched the nearly transparent vertical rods called trumpetfish hunt on the backs of parrotfish, blending innocuously into the herbivorous host before darting off for a kill.

From New York Times

We got up close and personal with sea creatures, from moray eels and trumpetfish to sea turtles, sharks and stingrays.

From Seattle Times