Ecology of Aulostomus maculatus
 
Main Ref. Randall, J.E., 1967
Remarks Commonly found in weedy areas and especially around reefs, where they usually swim snout-down among sea whips (gorgonians). A solitary ambusher of small fishes and crustaceans that lurk among branching coral or gorgonians. Often swims behind large herbivorous fishes to sneak up on prey. Mouth opens to diameter of body to suck in prey (Ref. 9710). Carnivore (Ref. 57616).

Aquatic zones / Water bodies

Marine - Neritic Marine - Oceanic Brackishwater Freshwater
Marine zones / Brackish and freshwater bodies
  • supra-littoral zone
  • littoral zone
  • sublittoral zone
  • epipelagic
  • mesopelagic
  • epipelagic
  • abyssopelagic
  • hadopelagic
  • estuaries/lagoons/brackish seas
  • mangroves
  • marshes/swamps
  • rivers/streams
  • lakes/ponds
  • caves
  • exclusively in caves
Highighted items on the list are where Aulostomus maculatus may be found.

Habitat

Substrate
Substrate Ref.
Special habitats Beds: algae/seaweed; Coral Reefs;
Special habitats Ref.

Associations

Ref.
Associations
Associated with Cleaned by Pederson's cleaner shrimp, <>Periclimenes pedersoni, as observed on the coral reefs in Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles (Ref. 36810).
Association remarks
Parasitism

Feeding

Feeding type mainly animals (troph. 2.8 and up)
Feeding type Ref. Randall, J.E., 1967
Feeding habit hunting macrofauna (predator)
Feeding habit Ref. Randall, J.E., 1967
Trophic Level(s)
Estimation method Original sample Unfished population Remark
Troph s.e. Troph s.e.
From diet composition 4.26 0.62 4.15 0.68 Troph of juv./adults from 1 study.
From individual food items 4.44 0.79 Trophic level estimated from a number of food items using a randomized resampling routine.
Ref. Randall, J.E., 1967
(e.g. 346)
(e.g. oophagy)
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