Razorfishes

Scientific name : Centriscidae

Small fish family belonging to Singnathiformes order, like sea horses and pipe fishes. Their main feature is the vertical posture, constantly head down even when swimming. Very compressed body, the dorsal fin, has a long dorsal spine. Long snout, terminal pince like mouth.
Living usually in shallow environments, often close to branching benthic organisms like sponges, gorgonians, black coral), or anything capable to give shelter (like Diadema sea urchins).
They swim in the typical head down posture, undulating caudal and anal fins. They feed mainly on small planktonic crustaceans, collected with the pince shaped jaws.
Unmistakable shape and posture. Also ghost pipefishes (Syngnathiformes as well) can stay with the head down, but only razorfishes move constantly in this position.
This family includes 2 genera, each one represented in our area by 1 species. The 2 species are very similar, a big attention to details is needed to identify them.