Galapagos Species Database
The Galapagos Species Database shares the information about the species from our Natural History Collections.
Aulostomus chinensis
pez trompeta, trompeta espinosa, Spinyback trumpetfish, trumpetfish
Adept at color change. Most common phase is shades of brown to reddish brown; can be blue-gray, bright yellow or gold. Have pale thin lines and scattered, small black spots; several prominent white or dark spots extreme rear b. Size: To about 76 cm.
Habitat: Areas of reef development.
Domain
Eukaryota
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Teleostei
Order
Syngnathiformes
Family
Aulostomidae
Genus
Aulostomus
Species
chinensis
Taxon category: Accepted
Syn.: Aulostomus valentini (Bleeker, 1853), Fistularia chinensis Linnaeus, 1766, Polypterichthys valentini Bleeker, 1853, Aulostoma chinense (Linnaeus, 1766) (misspelling), Aulostoma chinensis (Linnaeus, 1766) (misspelling), fide Appeltans et al. (2010)
Origin: Native
Map of specimen collection localities or observation records for this species in our collections database.
Distribution: Indo-West Pacific; in the eastern Pacific from scattered oceanic localities including Clipperton, Cocos, Malpelo, Revillagigedos and Ecuador in Galápagos Islands; also Islas Contreras in the Gulf of Chiriqui, Panama and Easter Island.
- Appeltans, W. Bouchet, P., Boxshall, G.A., Fauchald, K., Gordon, D.P., Hoeksema, B.W., Poore, G.C.B., van Soest, R.W.M., Stöhr, S., Walter, T.C., Costello, M.J. (eds.) (2010) World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS). Available online at http://www.marinespecies.org.
- Banks, S. Vera, M. & Chiriboga, A. (2009) Establishing Reference Points to Assess Long-Term Change in Zooxanthellate Coral Communities of the Northern Galapagos Coral Reefs. J. Sci. Conserv. in the Galapagos Islands, p. 43-64.
- Constant, P. (2007) Marine Life of the Galapagos. The Diver's guide to Fishes, Whales, Dolphins and marine Invertebrates, 307 pp.
- Edgar, G.J. Fariña, J.M., Calvopiña, M., Martínez, C. & Banks, S. (2002) Comunidades submareales rocosas II: Peces y macroinvertebrados móviles. In: Danulat, E. & Edgar, G.J. (eds.) (2002): Reserva Marina de Galápagos. Línea Base de la Biodiversidad. Fundación Charles Darwin/Servicio Parque Nacional Galápagos, Santa Cruz, Galápagos, Ecuador, p. 68-97.
- Grove, J.S. Lavenberg, R.J. (1997) The Fishes of the Galapagos Islands. Stanford University Press, Stanford California. 862 pp.
- Humann, P. Deloach, N. (2003) Reef Fish Identification - Galapagos. New World Publication, Inc. Florida USA & Libri Mundi, Quito, Ecuador, 226 pp.
- IUCN (2023) The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2022-2 Https://www.iucnredlist.org
- IUCN (2010) IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 26 April 2010.
- McCosker, J.E. Rosenblatt, R.H. (2010) The fishes of the Galápagos Archipelago: an update. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sc., Ser. 4, vol. 61, Suppl. II, no. 11: 167-195.
You are welcome to download and use the information found in this page, acknowledging its source.
This page should be cited as follows:
"Galapagos Species Database, Aulostomus chinensis", dataZone. Charles Darwin Foundation, https://datazone.darwinfoundation.org/en/checklist/?species=7656. Accessed 30 October 2026.