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FIST
1982

FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS

FISHING AREA 51
(W. Indian Ocean)

FISTULARIIDAE

Cornetfishes, flutemouths

Body elongate and depressed. Mouth small, at end of a long tubular snout hexagonal in cross section; teeth
in jaws small. Dorsal and anal fins short-based and opposite, with 14 to 17 segmented soft rays; pectoral fins
with 13 to 17 rays; pelvic fins small and abdominal, with 6 rays. Lateral line arched, running anteriorly along
back, then bending downward on side and continuing posteriorly onto an elongate filament produced by the middle 2
caudal fin rays, the line composed of tube-shaped ossifications that gradually take the form of long bony shields
sometimes bearing sharp spines. Body of juveniles covered with rows of small spinules which are retained in the
adults of only one Western Indian species (F. petimba); a row of elongate bony plates may be present along dorsal
and ventral midlines of body just anterior to dorsal and/or anal fin. Total number of vertebrae 76 to 85, with the
first 4 elongate and fused.
Colour: variable with the species; either red to orange-brown above and silvery below, or brownish-olive
above, lighter below, with a series of blue spots on back and snout.

Large fishes, reaching up to about 2 m in total length. F. petimba is typically found in coastal areas over
soft bottoms, usually at depths greater than 10 m. F. commersoni is most often seen in seagrass beds and coral
reefs. Cornetfishes feed on small fishes and shrimps. Although not important in the commercial fishery of the
area, they are frequently taken in trawls and by various types of artisanal gear and may appear in local fish
markets. Although edible, they are most often used for fishmeal.

prolonged caudal
fin rays

dorsal fin

anal fin

mouth small

tube-like snout pelvic fin

 -2-

FAO Sheets FISTULARIIDAE Fishing Area 51

SIMILAR FAMILIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Aulostomidae: no caudal filament; barbel

present on lower jaw; body compressed rather than
depressed; distinct separate spines anterior to soft
dorsal fin.
Aulostomidae
Syngnathidae: smaller; body covered with
armour; anal fin reduced or absent; caudal fila-
ment absent.

Syngnathidae

KEY TO SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

1a. A row of elongate bony plates embedded in

skin along midline of back anterior to dorsal
fin (Fig. 1); posterior lateral-line ossifications
ending in a sharp spine; immaculate red or
brown above ...................................... Fistularia petimba
bony dorsal
plates fin
1b. No elongate bony plates along midline of back;
posterior lateral-line ossifications without a
spine; rows of blue spots on back, sides and
snout ....................................………………..... Fistularia

sector of back in front

of dorsal fin

LIST OF SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA: Fig.1

Code numbers are given for those species for which Identification Sheets are included

Fistularia petimba Lacépède, 1803 FIST Fist 1

Fistularia commersonii Rüppell, 1835 FIST Fist 3

Prepared by R.A. Fritzsche, Department of Fisheries, Humboldt State University, Arcata, California, USA
 FIST Fist 1

1982

FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS

FAMILY: FISTULARIIDAE FISHING AREA 51

(W. Indian Ocean)

Fistularia petimba Lacépède, 1803

OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE : Fistularia serrata Cuvier, 1817

Fistularia villosa Klunzinger, 1871

VERNACULAR NAMES:
FAO : En - Red cornetfish
Fr - Cornette rouge
Sp - Corneta colorada

NATIONAL:

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:

Body elongate and depressed. Mouth at end of a long, tubular bony dorsal
snout, hexagonal in cross section; teeth in jaws small; ridges on snout plates fin
with antrorse (forward-pointing) serrations, the upper ridges
parallel; interorbital space narrow and nearly flat. Dorsal and anal
fins short-based and opposite, with 14 to 16 segmented (soft) rays;
pectoral fins with 15 or 16 rays; pelvic fins small and abdominal,
with 6 rays. Lateral line arched, running anteriorly almost along
middle of back, then bending down to middle of sides and continuing
posteriorly onto an elongate filament produced by the middle 2
caudal fin rays; posterior lateral-line ossifications bearing sharp,
retrorse (backward-pointing) spines. A row of elongate bon plates
present on midlines of body just anterior to dorsal and/or anal
fin; spinules in skin well developed at all sizes. Vertebrae 76, the
first 4 elongate and fused.
sector of back in front
C o l o u r : i n l i f e r e d t o o r a n g e - b r o wn a b o v e , s i l v e r y b e l o w ; of dorsal
fin vertical fins also have an orange cast.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Fistularia commersonii: no elongate bony plates along midline of back; posterior lateral line ossifications
without spines; rows of blue spots or lines on back.

SIZE:

Maximum: 200 cm; common to 100 cm.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:

In the Western Indian, along the east coast of Africa

from the Red Sea southward including Madagascar, the
Maldives, southern India and Sri Lanka. Also in the
tropical Atlantic and Western Pacific to Hawaii and to
Japan and southern Australia.
Found in coastal areas over soft bottoms, usually at
depths greater than 10 m.

Feeds on small fishes and shrimps.

PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:

No special fishery, but caught frequently in bottom

trawls and in artisanal fisheries

CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:

Separate statistics are not reported for this species.
Caught with bottom trawls, gillnets and line gear.

Utilized fresh, dried salted or smoked, also reduced

to fishmeal.
 FIST Fist 3

1982

FAO SPECIES IDENTIFICATION SHEETS

FAMILY: FISTULARIIDAE FISHING AREA 51

(W. Indian Ocean)

Fistularia commersonii Rüppell, 1835

OTHER SCIENTIFIC NAMES STILL IN USE : Fistularia petimba (non Lacépède, 1803)

VERNACULAR NAMES:

FAO : En - Bluespotted cornetfish

Fr - Cornette à taches bleues
Sp - Corneta pintada

NATIONAL:

DISTINCTIVE CHARACTERS:

Body elongate and depressed. Mouth at end of a long, tubular snout, hexagonal in cross section; teeth in
jaws small; ridges on snout with antrorse serrations, the upper ridges diverging anteriorly; interorbital space flat.
Dorsal and anal fins short-based and opposite, with 14 to 16 anal and 15 to 17 dorsal segmented (soft)
rays; pectoral fins with 13 or 15 rays; pelvic fins small and abdominal, with 6 rays. Lateral line arched, running
anteriorly almost along middle of back, then bending down to side and continuing posteriorly onto an elongate
filament produced by the middle 2 caudal fin rays; posterior lateral line ossifications without spines. Body
covered in juveniles with rows of small spinules which become obsolete in adults. Vertebrae 84 or 85, the first 4
elongate and fused.
Colour: brownish to olive above, becoming lighter to silvery below; a pair of blue stripes or a row of blue
spots along back; dorsal and anal fins with an orange cast becoming transparent at base; caudal filament white.
DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERS OF SIMILAR SPECIES OCCURRING IN THE AREA:

Fistularia petimba: elongate bony plates embedded bony dorsal

in skin along midline of back; posterior lateral line plates fin
ossifications ending in a short spine; immaculate red or
brown above, without blue spots.

SIZE:

Maximum: about 160 cm; common to 100 cm.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION AND BEHAVIOUR:

sector of back in front
In the Western Indian, along the east coast of Africa of dorsal fin
from the Red Sea southward to the Maldives and southern
India and Sri Lanka. Also found throughout the tropical F. petimba
Indo-Pacific Ocean to America and to Japan and
Australia.
Most common in seagrass beds and coral reefs in
shallow water. antrorse spines on ridges
Feeds on small fishes and shrimps.

PRESENT FISHING GROUNDS:

F. petimba
No special fishery, but taken frequently in trawls and
artisanal fisheries.

CATCHES, FISHING GEAR AND FORMS OF UTILIZATION:

Separate statistics are not reported for this species.

Caught with bottom trawls, gillnets and line gear.

Utilized fresh, dried salted or smoked; also reduced

to fishmeal.

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