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Muiron Pipefish Choeroichthys latispinosus Dawson 1978
[CAAB 37 282044]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

The protruding spines on the sides of the snout of the Muiron Pipefish distinguish this very rare species from all other pipefish in the genus Choeroichthys.

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

Endemic to South Muiron Island (WA); inhabits coral reef rubble slopes in 1-10m.

Size:

Reaches a length of 50 mm TL.

Food and feeding:

Unknown, but likely to feed on small crustaceans.

Reproduction and early life history:

Brooded by the males in an enclosed pouch on the underside of trunk.

Characteristics:

Meristics: D 22; P 20; A 4; C 10; Trunk rings 19; Tail rings 20.

Head and body: Snout with bilateral recurved spinous processes; snout depth 2.8 in snout length; median lateral snout ridge slightly arched; median dorsal snout ridge extends above level of nares in height; median ventral trunk ridge distinct; scutella not keeled; without knoblike projections on lateral trunk ridge; tail tip thick.

Colour:

In preservative - overall brown; jaws with irregular pale mottling, some spotting elsewhere on the snout; median dorsal ridges with three pale blotches on midline; pale blotches on dorsal side of trunk and tail; irregular pale mottling below middle of dorsal fin; dorsal fin narrowly edged with black or brown. All fins darkly pigmented; dorsal fin not bicolored.

Similar species:

C. latispinosus differs from the other species in the genus in having a protruding recurved spiny anterolateral snout ridge. C. brachysoma is similar but has a less deep snout that lacks lateral spines at the tip. C. smithi has one fewer dorsal fin ray, a shorter dorsal fin base (covers 3.75-5.25 versus 5.75 rings) and has a lower snout depth in length ratio (3.75-5.25 compared to 5.75).

Fisheries:

None.

Conservation Status:

In Australia, Marine listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Remarks:

Known from very few specimens.

Other common names:

Murion Island Pipefish

Original citation:

Choeroichthys latispinosus Dawson 1978, Rec. West. Aust. Mus. 64(4): 414, South Muiron Island, Western Australia.

Etymology:

Choeroichthys is from the Greek choiros (pig) and Greek ichthys (fish). The specific name latispinosus is from the Latin latus (side) and spinosus (thorny), in reference to the protruding lateral snout ridge.

References:

Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine fishes of tropical Australia and south-east Asia. Western Australian Museum, Perth. 292 pp.

Allen, G.R. & R. Swainston. 1988. The marine fishes of north-western Australia. A field guide for anglers and divers. Western Australian Museum, Perth. 201 pp.

Dawson, C.E. 1976. Review of the Indo-Pacific Pipefish genus Choeroichthys (Pisces: Syngnathidae), with descriptions of two new species. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 89(3): 39-66

Dawson, C.E. 1978. Description of a new Western Australian pipefish (Choeroichthys latispinosus), with notes on Syngnathus tuckeri Scott and Nannocampichthys Hora and Mukerji. Rec. West. Aust. Mus. 64(4): 413-421.

Dawson, C.E. 1985. Indo-Pacific Pipefishes (Red Sea to the Americas). Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, Ocean Springs, Mississippi. 230 pp.

Hoese, D.F., D.J. Bray, J.R. Paxton & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells (eds.) Zoological catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. 2178 pp.

Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Seahorses, Pipefishes and their Relatives. TMC Publishing, Chorleywood, UK. 240 pp.

Pogonoski, J.J. Pollard, D.A. & Paxton, J.R. 2002. Conservation Overview and Action Plan for Australian Threatened and Potentially Threatened Marine and Estuarine Fishes, Environment Australia, Canberra, 375 pp.