Trumpetfish Trumpetfish.
A long, slender ambush hunter that drifts vertically among coral branches, mimicking a stick until a small fish swims within range.
The trumpetfish, nūnū in Hawaiian, is one of the reef's cleverest predators. Its long, thin body and tubular snout are perfectly designed for stealth — it often drifts vertically among gorgonians and branching corals, looking for all the world like another piece of the reef.
Trumpetfish employ a remarkable hunting strategy called 'shadow stalking.' They position themselves directly above or alongside a larger, non-threatening fish — often a parrotfish or surgeonfish — using it as a moving blind. When a small prey fish lets its guard down near the larger fish, the trumpetfish strikes with a rapid suction-feeding snap.
They can change color rapidly, shifting between yellow, brown, green, and grey to match their surroundings. The yellow color phase is particularly striking and often confused with the closely related cornetfish. Trumpetfish can reach three feet in length but are so slender that they weigh very little.
In Hawaiian tradition, nūnū were recognized as crafty fish. The name may relate to the Hawaiian word for 'to moan' or 'to hum,' possibly referencing the sounds these fish can produce.
More species in this group.
Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa
The reef triggerfish — Hawaiʻi's official state fish, with a name that means "fish that sews with a needle and grunts like a pig."
Yellow Tang
The vivid lemon-yellow surgeonfish that flashes through every Hawaiian reef — and one of the most recognizable fish in the world.
Moorish Idol
Iconic black, white and yellow reef fish with a long sweeping dorsal filament — solitary, mysterious, famously hard to keep in captivity.
Raccoon Butterflyfish
Golden butterflyfish with a black bandit's mask. Often paired for life and one of the most common nighttime feeders on the reef.