Marine life in Gozo: Cornetfish

Anyone that has been diving the Maltese Islands recently will have noticed the sharp increase in the Cornetfish population.

Cornetfish are an alien species here in the Mediterranean, having been first recorded in 2008 after crossing the Suez canal from the Red Sea. These beautifully bizarre creatures are always wonderful to encounter, and can be found at a wide range of dive sites.

Here is a closer look at the Cornetfish, also known as the Flutemouth.

By zsispeo - Flickr: Fistularia commersonii

This close relation of the Trumpetfish once again has a name inspired by the brass instrument family due to its unusual elongated shape. They can often be found in coastal waters such as reefs, seagrass beds and sandy bottomed areas. Although most enjoy life in shallow water, some species are know to prefer depths of up to 100m.

They are incredibly distincitve and easy to identify due to thier long snout and trailing filament which sits between its tail fins. They appear almost squished, as they are almost always wider than they are tall. The extremely enongated body has a dorsal fin which sits way back. They also have a split tail fin from which the long filament trails back. This filament is covered in sensory pores, thought to aid in finding prey.

Like the seahorse they suck thier prey through a tiny mouth at the end of thier long snout, almost like a vaccum cleaner! The Cornetfish hunt for prey such as small fish, thier larvae and small crustaceans.

Cleverly, they have been known to hide behind larger fish when stalking prey. This tactic of sheltering behind fish such as Grouper makes them almost undetectable to prey. They then wind u by making an s shape with their body before striking quickly, sucking prey up instantly. Amazingly they are also able to change colour, blending in with the environment around them. This is not only beneficial when hunting, but also sheltering from larger predators.

Have you spotted any cornetfish on your recent dives? We would love to see your pictures!

Get in touch and dive with us and we can witness these beautiful creatures in the beautiful clear water surronding Gozo.