This is a common species at Kwajalein and can be seen on most lagoon, pinnacle, and seaward reefs. It is very similar to the closely related Forcipiger flavissimus, also very common at Kwaj. The differences visible to a field observer are described on the F. flavissimus page, but in short, F. longirostris does not have a forceps-like split for a mouth and it has rows of small black spots in the white area below the pectoral fin and behind (and sometimes on) the gill plate. It is reported to feed primarily on small crustaceans and apparently does not bite off chunks of larger invertebrates as does F. flavissimus. Although Fishbase reports the maximum sizes of both this and F. flavissimus to be the same at about 22cm, our experience is that F. longirostris tends to be a larger fish.
F. longirostris also has an all black or sometimes nearly black form that is very rare but present at Kwajalein.This all black one was photographed by Stan Jazwinski on the seaward reef.
Sometimes the black does not completely take over the fish.
Created 15 October 2010
Updated 4 September 2018