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| fishes text index | photo index |
| Phylum Chordata > Subphylum Vertebrate > fishes |
| Razorfishes Family Centriscidae updated Jun 08 Where seen? Small groups of these strange vertical fishes are sometimes seen on some of our shores at low tide, in deep pools such as in swimming lagoons, among coral rubble or in seagrass meadows. Elsewhere, they may be found in muddy bottoms near mangroves to inshore reefs. What are razorfishes? Razorfishes belong to Family Centriscidae. According to FishBase: there are 5 genera and 15 species, and these are found in the Indo-Pacific. They are sometimes also called Shrimpfishes, probably because at first glance they look more like shrimps than fishes. Features: Usually 6-10cm, up to 15cm long. Body flat, knife-like and covered in transparent thin plate-like armour that are extensions of the vertebrate. The first dorsal spine is long and sharp and located at the end of the body. There are two short spines next to it. In razorfishes of the genus Aoeliscus the dorsal spine is hinged, and thus moveable. When the spine is bent, it looks like the fish broke its tail. While in those of the genus Centriscus, the dorsal spine is fixed and rigid. The colouration may change depending on their surroundings but is usually silvery with a broad band along the body length. Colours seen include blackish, brown, yellowish and pale silvery. The fishes usually hangs head down in small synchronised groups, often among the spines of large sea urchins such as the Long-spined sea urchin (Diadema sp.) or over branching hard corals and sea whips. But they do swim horizontally and can make a swift getaway. What do they eat? Razorfishes eat tiny planktonic crustaceans, sucking these up with the small toothless mouth. The mouth is at the tip of a long, tube-like snout. Human uses: These bizarre fishes are sometimes taken for the live aquarium trade. Some species are harvested and ground up into fishmeal. Status and threats: Like other marine creatures, they are affected by human activities such as reclamation and pollution. Over-collection by hobbyists may also affect local populations. |
 Head down in a deep pool left behind at low tide in the swimming lagoon. Pulau Hantu, Feb 06  Sisters Island, Jun 07  Hinged dorsal spine. |
 Cyrene Reef, May 08 |
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 Narrow snout. |
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 Hinged dorsal spine. |
Razorfishes on Singapore shores
 Pulau Semakau, Dec 08 |
 Narrow snout. |
 Hinged dorsal spine. |
 Cyrene Reef, Jul 09 |
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 Hinged dorsal spine. |
 Tanah Merah, Dec 10 |
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Centriscidae recorded for Singapore from Wee Y.C. and Peter K. L. Ng. 1994. A First Look at Biodiversity in Singapore.
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Links
References
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Periplus Editions. 292 pp.|
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