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Coral reefs have an abundance of unusual fish, but one the strangest, and awesomest, is the smooth trunkfish. While snorkeling on our recent trip, we were lucky enough to see several of these beauties.
These fish are obviously not built for speed. They are rather box-shaped, and they swim around by fluttering their pectoral fins (on the side, behind the gills). Perhaps to make up for being slow, the trunkfish's scales are all fused into one solid protective shell, like a suit of armor. Also, when they feel threatened, they release a substance (called pahutoxin) into the water, which incapacitates other fish in the vicinity.
When hunting for food, such as small invertebrates, this fish uses it puckered lips to blast a jet of water at the sand to expose its prey.
These fish are obviously not built for speed. They are rather box-shaped, and they swim around by fluttering their pectoral fins (on the side, behind the gills). Perhaps to make up for being slow, the trunkfish's scales are all fused into one solid protective shell, like a suit of armor. Also, when they feel threatened, they release a substance (called pahutoxin) into the water, which incapacitates other fish in the vicinity.
When hunting for food, such as small invertebrates, this fish uses it puckered lips to blast a jet of water at the sand to expose its prey.
Photos by Stan C. Smith
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