Did you know that scientists estimate there are trillions of fish alive in our ocean today? About 20,000 marine fish species are currently known to science, and sometimes it can be hard to tell them apart. Some fish, however, are so unique that you can identify them in what feels like an instant. Let’s dive in and meet one of these stars of the sea: the trumpetfish.
Thriving in shallow reef ecosystems of the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian oceans, trumpetfish are cousins to seahorses and pipefish, and their similarities go beyond their appearance. Just like seahorses, female trumpetfish rely on males during gestation. They transfer their eggs to a male’s special pouch, where the eggs are then fertilized and incubated until it’s time for larvae to be released into the sea.
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Also similar to seahorses, they have dramatically elongated bodies with tubular snouts (proportionally longer than seahorses). These carnivores are quite a spectacle to see, and their straw-like mouths are designed to quickly suck up prey such as small fish, shrimp and other tiny invertebrates.
Though very identifiable to us, trumpetfish aren’t always so easily spotted by their prey. They use a combination of camouflage and ambush tactics to strike prey before the unsuspecting target knows what happened.
First, trumpetfish have understated, transparent dorsal and anal fins that enable them to swim both backward and forward (usually vertically) without attracting attention. They use these fins to hover virtually motionless near corals and rocky ledges, waiting for the perfect moment to spring into action. While they activate “stealth mode,” cells called chromatophores help them to blend in with their surroundings. These cells are even thought to help male trumpetfish impress females during courting season, though their primary role is to provide a masterful disguise.
It’s fascinating that camouflage isn’t the only tool that these strategic sea stalkers have under their belts. Trumpetfish are also known to exhibit very cunning behavior. Many trumpetfish prey live in or around seagrass beds or soft corals, where small fish are known to hang out. When fish schools are nearby, trumpetfish will swim alongside them, patiently waiting until their desired prey is pushed out into the open.
Once a target has been spotted, it’s ambush time. Pouncing at prey with their mouths in a quick darting motion, a trumpetfish then sucks up its meal like a straw before swallowing it whole. These fish even have specialized jaws that can open to nearly the size of their entire body, if needed.
While what scientists know about trumpetfish is fascinating, in reality, there’s still much we need to understand about these animals. They are tricky to spot in the wild (probably partially due to their excellent hide-and-seek skills), and there isn’t currently enough known about them to properly estimate their conservation status. Regardless, trumpetfish rely on healthy, thriving coral reefs and seagrass beds. The deterioration of these ecosystems as a result of the impacts of climate change, such as ocean acidification, poses a threat for these unique marine animals.
A diverse, healthy ocean full of thriving wildlife depends on what we do today to protect our blue planet. Ocean Conservancy is working on the frontlines of ocean protection, striving to develop, implement and support evidence-based solutions to our ocean’s biggest challenges, including climate change.
Take action today and tell your representatives that ocean climate action is not a want, but a need. Animals like trumpetfish, and so many other species, are counting on us.
The post Get Loud for Trumpetfish appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.
This fall, Ocean Conservancy is celebrating its 41st annual International Coastal Cleanup® (ICC), once again bringing together volunteers to protect the beaches and waterways we all love. Ocean Conservancy recently hosted flagship events in Long Beach and Washington, D.C. that celebrated this global movement close to home.
Over the past four decades, nearly 20 million volunteers have rolled up their sleeves to remove more than 405 million pounds of trash from beaches and waterways around the world. And their impact extends far beyond what they collect. ICC volunteers have documented nearly 440 million individual items, creating the world’s largest marine debris database and providing invaluable information that helps Ocean Conservancy and others better understand—and tackle—ocean plastic pollution.
This year’s celebration continued that incredible legacy. At Alamitos Beach in Southern California, more than 150 volunteers gathered on September 19 and removed 1,109 pounds of trash, alongside members of Team USA Artistic Swimming and Olympic and Paralympic athletes. In Washington, D.C., 439 volunteers gathered on September 26 to remove 2,182 pounds of trash from Anacostia Park along the Anacostia River.
“I am so grateful to all of the volunteers who came out today for our ocean—and every volunteer who has made the last 41 years of impact possible,” said Ocean Conservancy’s Senior Director of Conservation Cleanups, Allison Schutes. “Every piece of plastic collected helps protect marine animals and habitats and contributes to research and advocacy.”
And the impact doesn’t stop when the cleanup ends. During International Coastal Cleanup events, volunteers do more than remove trash: They document what they find, helping build a clearer picture of the plastic pollution threatening our waterways and wildlife. Through the Clean Swell® app or paper data sheets, ICC volunteers contribute to Ocean Conservancy’s online, open-access database, the world’s largest repository of marine debris data. These records help scientists, conservation groups and governments understand pollution trends and identify solutions.
That data can also drive meaningful policy change. ICC data were recently used in a peer-reviewed study showing that plastic bag bans lead to reduced plastic bag pollution. The data have also helped advance policies ranging from California’s SB 54 to Florida’s balloon release ban and the federal Farewell to Foam Act. From a neighborhood cleanup to statewide action, every piece of documented trash helps build the evidence needed to tackle plastic pollution at its source.
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Want to get involved?
Whether you join a local cleanup, record the trash you find using the Clean Swell app, or take action to reduce plastic pollution, you can be part of this incredible collective effort to protect our ocean. Here are a few ways to make an impact:
- Find a cleanup near you.
- Download our Clean Swell app to easily record the trash you collect.
- Take action to reduce plastic pollution.
- Explore our Wildlife Impact Calculator to estimate the potential benefits of your cleanup for marine wildlife.
- Donate today to Ocean Conservancy to help us fight plastic pollution for years to come!
The post Celebrating 41 Years of the International Coastal Cleanup® appeared first on Ocean Conservancy.
For generations, stories of people being swallowed by enormous sea creatures have painted awe-inspiring tales of human survival and perseverance. From the biblical account of Jonah to the legendary battle of Hercules and Cetus to the timeless story of Pinocchio, these legendary tales have captivated people since time immemorial.
But all these stories raise the question: Could someone really be swallowed by a whale? With the premiere of the film Whalefall on October 16, 2026, you may find yourself in conversations about this very situation. Based on the bestselling 2023 thriller authored by Daniel Kraus, the film tells the story of a scuba diver who is accidentally gobbled up by a sperm whale while searching for the remains of his late father. With only an hour of oxygen left in his tank, the diver must fight to escape the whale’s gut before time runs out.
The answer to whether it’s anatomically possible for a whale to swallow a person is actually a bit more complicated than you might think.