Birdfish

Description

Gomphosus caeruleus can reach a length of about 32 centimetres (13 in).Body is oval,rather elongated and laterally compressed.In adult specimens the snout is very long.This species has 8 dorsal spines,13 dorsal soft rays,3 anal spines and 11 anal soft ray.The basic coloration is blue with lighter fins in males.In females,however,the snout is brown above and white below,the back is gray and the belly,the anal fin and the caudal fin are yellow.It looks very similar to the congener Gomphosus varius,with which it is often confused,but it can be distinguished by the coloration and the distribution.