Family Aulorhynchidae

Tubesnouts

Selected Characters: Body elongate; about 25 short isolated dorsal spines preceding dorsal fin; long snout with tiny terminal mouth; thin lateral scutes present.

This is a small family of coastal marine fishes of the North Pacific. Tubesnouts are usually found in schools, often near the surface. There are only two species in this family, one of which occurs Puget Sound. Our Tubesnout has an elongate shape and may grow to 18 cm long. Several female tubesnouts may lay their eggs in a nest which is guarded by a single male. These fishes feed on plankton. Tubesnouts are common in Puget Sound.

Puget Sound Species

Aulorhynchus flavidus Tubesnout