Coral Shrimpfish

They live in well-synchronised schools and are also known as striped razorfish or striped shrimpfish.

Juveniles can be pelagic.

Razorfish like to shelter between the spines of large sea urchins.

Where is the animal to be found?

It is found near the bottom of coral reefs (especially among branching coral, gorgonians and antipatharians), in areas of seagrass and algae beds, at depths of between 1 and 35 m. Like the Banggai cardinalfish (Pterapogon kauderni), coral shrimpfish like to take shelter between the spines of large sea urchins such as the diadem urchin (Diadema setosum).

How can it be recognised?

 This family of fish has a slender body covered with bony patches and a ventral carina. It is a gregarious fish, living in a group that moves around synchronously. Its streamlined shape enables it to hide in algae or seaweed and thus escape predators. They live in well-synchronised schools and are also known as striped razorfish or striped shrimpfish. They can be recognised by their jointed backbone that looks as though it is broken in the middle.

What is distinctive about it? 

They stay upright and always swim upside down. When faced with a potential predator, they prefer to turn sideways.