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Whiskered Pipefish Halicampus macrorhynchus Bamber 1915
[CAAB 37 282067]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

The Whiskered Pipefish, with its blotched colour pattern and appendages on the body, is very well-camouflaged amongst macroalgae.

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

Tropical Indo-west Pacific, northern Red Sea, Indonesia, northern Australia, north to Papua New Guinea, New Britain and the Solomon Islands, Japan; inhabits coral reef flats and coastal reefs, often amongst seagrass beds, coral rubble, macroalgae, or over sand in 3-25 m. One specimen was reportedly trawled in 180-300 m.

Size:

To 180 mm TL

Food and feeding:

Feeds on small crustaceans.

Reproduction and early life history:

Reproduction: Ovoviviparous (gives birth to live young). The eggs are brooded by the males in a semi-exposed pouch under the trunk. The pouch folds fall well short of the midline of the egg-filled pouch. Males may begin brooding at 135 mm SL.

Eggs: Deposited in cutaneous cells protected by short, lateral folds and poorly developed protective plates.

Larvae: Pelagic larvae settle at a large size, around 80 mm; juveniles around 70-100 mm SL with 8-10 pairs of large leaf-like flaps on the superior body ridges. Juveniles settle out in round-leafed seagrass beds at about 80 mm in length.

Characteristics:

Meristics: D 18-19; A 4; P 16-19; Trunk rings 14-15; Tail rings 25-27.

Head and body: Head length 4.7-5.1 in SL; snout long, slender, length 1.5-1.8 in head length; subadult-adult snout depth 9.2-16.0 in snout length; juvenile 70-100 mm SL snout depth 6.2-8.5 in snout length; median dorsal snout ridge with an irregular distribution of minute spines and short ridge-like projections; lateral snout spines present; dorsal rim of orbit elevated; opercular ridge complete; principle body ridges elevated, often with hook-like notch on distal third of each ring; dermal flaps present on head and body. Trunk and tail ridges discontinuous; inferior trunk ridge ending at anal ring; lateral trunk ridge continuous with inferior tail ridge. Numerous large wing-like dermal appendages along the body and under the snout.

Fins: Caudal fin present; pectoral-fin base strongly protruding laterally.

Colour:

Colour pattern varies with habitat. Individuals living on algal-rubble habitats are more colourful than those on sandy habitats; light tan to dark brown or pinkish-red with around 10 diffuse dark bars or mottling crossing dorsal surface and body sides.

Similar species:

The long, slender snout and numerous dermal appendages of juvenile and adult forms easily separate H. macrorhynchus from other species in the genus.

Fisheries:

Sometimes collected for the aquarium trade.

Conservation Status:

Australian Government Legislation: Marine listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Remarks:

The dermal appendages provide effective camouflage for H. macrorhynchus amongst macroalgae. As they grow, young Whiskered Pipefish gradually lose the winglike appendages that extend from the body, althgough adults retain some of the tassel and whisker-like appendages on the head and body.

Other common names:

Ornate Pipefish, Winged Pipefish, Longsnout Pipefish.

Original citation:

Halicampus macrorhynchus Bamber 1915, J. Linn. Soc. Zool. 31: 480,  Suez, Red Sea.

Etymology:

Halicampus from the Greek als, alis (salt) and kampe (bend, curvature).

References:

Allen, G.R. & M. Adrim. 2003. Coral reef fishes of Indonesia. Zool. Stud. 42(1): 1-72.

Bamber, R.C. 1915. Reports on the marine biology of the Sudanese Red Sea, from collections made by Cyril Crossland, M.A., B.Sc., F.Z.S. - XXII. The fishes. J. Linn. Soc. Zool. 31: 477-485

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

Dawson, C.E. & J.E. Randall. 1975. Notes on Indo-Pacific Pipefishes (Pisces: Syngnathidae) with description of two new species. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 88(25): 263-280.

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. [as Halicampus sp 2]

Nakabo, T. 2002. (ed.) Fishes of Japan with pictorial keys to the species. English edition. Tokai University Press. vol. 1, 866 pp.

Paulus, T. 1999. Family Syngnathidae. (pp 2264-2276) In Carpenter K.E. & Niem V.H. (eds) The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide For Fisheries Purposes. Vol. 4. FAO, Rome.

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

Randall, J.E. 2005. Reef and shore fishes of the South Pacific. New Caledonia to Tahiti and the Pitcairn Islands. 707 pp.

Randall, J.E., Allen, G.R. & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. Crawford House Press. Bathurst. 557 pp.

Senou, H., M. Tomari, A. Ono & K. Masubuchi. 1993. New record of an ornate pipefish, Halicampus macrorhynchus Bamber (Pisces: Syngnathidae) from Japan. I. O. P. Diving News 4(8): 4-6. [In Japanese, English abstract.]