Trumpetfish in Cozumel
Trumpetfish (*Aulostomus maculatus*) in Cozumel: how to identify it, where it is reliably seen, and what it is commonly confused with.
A long thin tube of a fish with a tiny trumpet-shaped mouth at the end. Colour varies from brown to grey to bright yellow, and can change.
Quick ID
| Scientific name | Aulostomus maculatus |
|---|---|
| Group | Camouflaged & Odd-Shaped Fish |
| Typical size | 50–90 cm |
| Depth range | 2–25 m |
| When to see it | Year-round |
| Active | Daytime |
| Conservation status | Least Concern |
| Notes | — |
Where You Will See It In Cozumel
Throughout the coral at Palancar, Yucab and Villa Blanca — most often seen hanging vertically, head-down, among sea rods.
Reliable sites: Palancar Gardens, Yucab, Villa Blanca Wall.
Behaviour
Hunts by stealth: hangs vertically to mimic a sea rod, or shadows a larger grazing fish and uses it as cover to get within striking distance of small prey. Then it expands its mouth and inhales.
Commonly Confused With
- Cornetfish — Cornetfish are even thinner, more silvery, and have a long trailing filament off the tail.
- Sea rods — That is exactly the point — a vertical trumpetfish is meant to read as a gorgonian.
Diving Etiquette And Safety
Nothing required.
Part of the Cozumel marine life guide · see Cozumel dive sites · plan your Cozumel dive trip
Photo: Nick Hobgood, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
