Razorfish possess a unique swimming style that helps them both avoid predators and ambush hidden prey.
Razor fish (Aeolus strigatus) usually floats in the water with its body upright and its head turned upside down. This slender and elongated fish is often found among coral branches, seagrass beds and sea urchin spines, according to IFL Science.
Vertical swimming allows razorfish to hide easily even when moving in large synchronized schools. Body color also helps them. Individuals living in different habitats wear different colors for camouflage. For example, razorfish that live in seagrass environments often have a yellow-green back. They conceal themselves by using unusual swimming methods for a dual purpose. That behavior not only helps them avoid large predatory fish but also ambushes prey when given the opportunity.
Razorfish prey often includes small invertebrates such as arthropods and copepods. These tiny crustaceans sometimes take up residence in sea urchin spines. Due to the razor fish’s unique camouflage method, they don’t even have time to detect an intruder. Creative swimming isn’t the razorfish’s only notable trait. Their small bodies are covered with thin bone scales that form a transparent armor. Their fins are also very special as the tail fin is located on the abdomen, replacing the usual position of the dorsal fin.
Although razor fish are quite common in aquariums and in the wild in the Indo-West Pacific region, researchers know very little about them beyond the above characteristics. They don’t know how they reproduce, their age at maturity, or their numbers in the wild. Therefore, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List is classifying them as “Data Deficient”. However, as basic habitats such as seagrass meadows and coral reefs decline globally due to climate change, learning more about these fish is key to ensuring their survival. of them.