Razorfish (Aeoliscus strigatus) swim in a vertical position with their head down and their back facing the direction of travel. They are often found in schools that gather around coral branches and hide in the spines of sea urchins when disturbed.
These fish are remarkable for their strange body shape and swimming habit:
Their body grows to a maximum 15cm long and is encased in armour of thin, transparent scale like plates. One long spine running down its body forms a razor like belly which makes these fish appear thin and skinny from the front and wide from the side.
They swim in synchronized groups, each fish in a vertical position with the snout pointing downwards.
In the wild Razorfish have been observed hiding in the spines of sea urchins, both as a defence mechanism and as a hunting mechanism.
When threatened by larger fish, the razorfish hurries to a nearby sea urchin. The larger fish, wary of being stung by the sea urchin, which can sometimes be deadly, gives up the chase.
When hunting, razorfish will hide among the sea urchin spines and wait for small invertebrates that feed on the urchins. When their prey gets close the razorfish will rush out and try to catch its dinner.
Like its relative, the seahorse, this fish has a small toothless mouth. Their colour depends on their environment, changing their colours to a greenish yellow when living in sea grass and adapting a pattern to blend in with sea urchins.