See text The trumpetfishes are three species of highly specialized, tubularly-elongated marine fishes in the genus Aulostomus, of the monogeneric family Aulostomidae.
The trumpetfishes are members of the order Syngnathiformes, together with the seahorses and the similarly built, closely related cornetfishes.
Similar to most members of the order Syngnathiformes, the bodies of trumpetfish are inflexible, supported by interwoven struts of bone.
Members of the family have the capability to expand their jaws quickly into a circular, gaping hole almost to the body's diameter when feeding.
[9] Currently, three species in this genus are recognized:[1] The following fossil species of Aulostomus are also known:[10] Other extinct fossil genera within the Aulostomidae include Eoaulostomus, Macroaulostomus, Jungersenichthys, Synhypuralis & Tyleria, all from the Early Eocene of Italy, as well as Frauenweilerostomus from the Early Oligocene of Germany.