Sea Trumpeter

Pelsartia humeralis

The sea trumpeter is a marine ray-finned fish characterized by its moderately deep, elongated body that is laterally compressed. It features a small, oblique mouth with conical teeth arranged in a single band on each jaw. The dorsal fin is notable for its 12-13 spines and 11 soft rays, with a distinct notch, while the anal fin mirrors the soft part of the dorsal fin with 3 spines and 10 soft rays. Its coloration is light greyish to brown on the back, transitioning to silvery white on the underside, with 4-5 broad dark vertical bands on the flanks. Dark stripes run across its head, and juveniles display additional horizontal lines of dark spots. Endemic to the southeastern Indian Ocean, the sea trumpeter is found along the southwestern coast of Australia, from Kangaroo Island to the Houtman Abrolhos. It inhabits coastal waters, frequenting seagrass beds in shallow areas. The species is benthopelagic, with occurrences recorded at depths shallower than 40 meters, and predominantly less than 20 meters. An omnivorous feeder, the sea trumpeter's diet includes a variety of food items. During reproduction, the male plays an active role by guarding and fanning the eggs. Divers encountering this species may notice its grunting noise when caught. Currently, the sea trumpeter's conservation status has not been evaluated by the IUCN.