Centriscidae

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Centriscidae (razorfish, shrimpfish; subclass Actinopterygii, order Syngnathiformes) A family of small, marine, tropical fish which often swim in a vertical, head-down position. The compressed, thin body is covered by a bony casing produced from modified scales. The ventral side is produced into a hard and sharp keel (‘razor blade’). They have a long, tubular snout with a small mouth at the end of it, which is used to suck up minute organisms. At least four species occur in the Indo-Pacific region, Centriscus aristatus (smooth razorfish) reaching a length of up to 25 cm.

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