Shrimpfish

Shrimpfish
Aeoliscus strigatus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Syngnathiformes
Family:	Centriscidae
Subfamily:	Centriscinae
Genera and species
See text.

Shrimpfish, also called razorfish, are five small species of marine fish in the subfamily Centriscinae of the family Centriscidae. The species in the genera Aeoliscus and Centriscus are found in relatively shallow tropical parts of the Indo-Pacific, while the banded bellowsfish, which often is placed in the subfamily Macroramphosinae instead, is restricted to deeper southern oceans.

Shrimpfish are nearly transparent and flattened from side to side with long snouts and a sharp-edged belly. A thin, dark stripe runs along its body. It is from this and their shrimp-like appearance that their name is derived. They swim in a synchronized manner with their heads pointing downwards. Adult shrimpfish are up to 20 centimetres (7.9 in) long, including their snout. The banded bellowsfish more closely resembles members of the subfamily Macroramphosinae (especially Notopogon) in both behavior and bodyshape, and reaches a length of up to 30 centimetres (12 in).

Genera and species

• Genus Aeoliscus
  • Speckled shrimpfish, Aeoliscus punctulatus (Bianconi, 1855)
  • Razorfish, Aeoliscus strigatus (Günther, 1861)
• Genus Centriscops
  • Banded bellowsfish, Centriscops humerosus (Richardson, 1846)
• Genus Centriscus
  • Smooth razor-fish, Centriscus cristatus (De Vis, 1885)
  • Grooved razor-fish, Centriscus scutatus Linnaeus, 1758