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Forcipiger longirostris

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Kingdom
  
Order
  
Genus
  
Higher classification
  
Forcipiger

Phylum
  
Chordata

Family
  
Chaetodontidae

Scientific name
  
Forcipiger longirostris

Rank
  
Species

Forcipiger longirostris Forcipiger longirostris

Similar
  
Forcipiger, Butterflyfish, Yellow longnose, Hemitaurichthys, Chelmon

Reefwise big longnose butterflyfish forcipiger longirostris


Forcipiger longirostris, commonly known as the longnose butterflyfish or big longnose butterflyfish, is a species of butterflyfish found on coral reefs throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific. Even with its distinctive, point-like long nose, the longnose butterflyfish still can easily be confused with its more common cousin F. flavissimus. Both species may be kept in aquariums.

Contents

Forcipiger longirostris Longnose Butterflyfish Forcipiger longirostris Broussonet 1782

Forcipiger longirostris black color variant


Description

Forcipiger longirostris Photos of butterflyfishes Chaetodontidae

F. longirostris has a compressed yellow body with a black triangular region on its head, and as the name implies, a long, silvery snout. Usually 10 or 11 dorsal spines, a black spot on the anal fin, and rows of small black spots on the breast are found. The fish grows to about 22 cm (8.7 in) in length. In comparison, F. flavissimus has more dorsal spines, lacks the black spots, and its operculum is more curved.

Forcipiger longirostris Forcipiger

Rarely, F. longirostris can be found in an all-black form, as well, or the yellow portion may be brown.

Behavior

Forcipiger longirostris wwwkarollewallcomwpcontentuploadsgalleriesp

F. longirostris is a diurnal omnivore, feeding mostly on small crustaceans, tube feet of echinoderms and sea urchins, and polychaete tentacles. Like other butterflyfish species, longnose butterflyfish mate for life.

Nomenclature

Forcipiger longirostris Image Forcipiger longirostris Big Longnosed Butterflyfish

F. longirostris, together with F. flavissimus, is known for having the longest fish name in the Hawaiian language: lauwiliwilinukunukuʻoiʻoi, or "long-snouted (sharp-beaked) fish shaped like a wiliwili leaf". It was the first Hawaiian fish to receive a scientific name, when Captain James Cook collected a specimen (this remains part of the British Museum collection).

Forcipiger longirostris Longnose Butterflyfish Forcipiger longirostris

References

Forcipiger longirostris Wikipedia