Is it a fish? Is it a plant? No…

Swimming around, minding my own business, all of a sudden I was memorized by a strange looking leaf like creature.

After some research I discovered that it was a spotted shrimpfish also called razorfish.

They are nearly transparent and flattened from side to side with long snouts and sharp edged bellies.  A thin, dark stripe runs along their bodies when they are fully grown while the juveniles have a darker brown color.  They can grow up to 20 cm in length including their snouts.

They mainly swim vertically in a head down position in order to mimic leaves or to enhance camouflage.  They swim in a synchronized manner in schools which can consist of up to 150 individuals.

They are suction feeders which prey on zoo planktonic crustaceans and tiny bottom dwelling invertebrates’ sucking them in through the elongated tube-like snout.

Make sure to look out for them on you next dive with Divers Down