These odd shaped swimmers will grow to about a foot long
This interesting tropical fish is called a smooth trunkfish. This photograph was taken in Key Largo, on a shallow inshore reef. Smooth trunkfish are commonly seen in these waters as well as throughout Florida and the Caribbean. They are seen as far north as Massachusetts and as far south as Brazil.
These odd shaped swimmers will grow to about a foot long, although the one in this photo is less than that. Trunkfish have a distinct triangular shaped body design. Their translucent yellow pectoral fins help them navigate the reefs. When young, their spots are distinct and clear. As they grow, some areas of spots develop a “blurred” or “smooth” appearance. This is how the fish gets its name. As the smooth trunkfish develops, the blurry spots on their mid-body become honeycombed pattern. Another thing that happens as the smooth trunkfish matures is that its yellow spots become whiter.
Here are a couple photos of a juvenile smooth trunkfish. These cute pea sized fish are a crowd favorite. They are often found in small recesses, which they use for protection. If there is any surge or water movement they can be very challenging to shoot photos of. When they are this young, their tiny fins are powerless compared to the moving seas and they tend to ping pong around.
Smooth trunkfish will often hover a few inches above the bottom and blow the sand to search for food. This is fun to watch. Smooth trunkfish will eat the freshly exposed invertebrates on the sea floor. Their diet includes a variety of worms, crustaceans, tunicates, and sponges.
For the most part, smooth trunkfish are not concerned with divers. This makes them excellent photography subjects. Additionally, their mouth resembles a human mouth. As you can see in this photo, they have a surprised look with their open mouth and large bulging eyes.
Smooth trunkfish will often hover a few inches above the bottom and blow the sand to search for food
Did you know?
- You will usually find smooth trunkfish near the bottom and often alone. However, during spawning they have been known to gather in groups.
- Smooth Trunkfish are able to produce a toxic mucous from their skin. It is called ostracitoxin. This is a deterrent for would be predators.
- It should come as no surprise that smooth trunkfish are a part of the boxfish family.
- Smooth trunkfish are usually found in waters less than 80 feet deep.
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