Banded pipefish

Banded pipefish
Conservation status
Data Deficient  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Syngnathiformes
Family:	Syngnathidae
Genus:	Dunckerocampus
Species:	D. dactyliophorus
Binomial name
Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus (Bleeker, 1853)
Synonyms[2]
Syngnathus dactyliophorus Bleeker, 1853 Doryrhamphus dactyliophorus (Bleeker, 1853) Acanthognathus caulleryi Chabanaud, 1929

The banded pipefish or ringed pipefish (Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus) is a species of fish in the Syngnathidae (seahorses and pipefish) family.[3][2]

Distribution and habitat

The banded pipefish is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region, Red Sea included.[2] Its range includes Australia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Indonesia, Japan, the Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Northern Mariana Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, South Africa, and Taiwan.[1] It inhabits tide pools, lagoons, and outer reef slopes in tropical climates.[2]

Description

The banded pipefish has a straight, elongated body which reaches a maximum length of 19 cm (7.4 in).[2] It has fleshy streams coming back from its head. These trails are thought to be mechanisms of camouflage for the pipefish whilst hiding in reeds.[4]

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  Banded pipefish
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  Banded pipefish
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  Skeleton of a banded pipefish (Museum of Osteology)

Reproduction

Similar to the other seahorses and pipefishes, the male banded pipefish is equipped with a specialised brood pouch, rather than the female.[5] The female deposits her eggs in the male's pouch, where they develop. The male later gives birth.[6]

References

1. Pollom, R. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T6814A115083653. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T6814A67621462.en.
2. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus". FishBase. October 2015 version.
3. "Fish.gov.au". Archived from the original on 22 July 2008. Retrieved 10 July 2008.
4. Günter Berghaus (2004). New Perspectives on Prehistoric Art. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 42. ISBN 978-0-275-97813-6.
5. Marshall Cavendish Corporation, ed. (2004). Encyclopedia of the Aquatic World. Marshall Cavendish. ISBN 978-0-7614-7418-0.
6. Blasiola, George C.; Matthew M. Vriends (2000). The Saltwater Aquarium Handbook. Barron's Educational Series. ISBN 978-0-7641-1241-6.

External links

• http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218005
• http://doris.ffessm.fr/fiche2.asp?fiche_numero=2319
• Fishes of Australia : Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus
• Photos of Banded pipefish on Sealife Collection