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Samoan Pipefish Halicampus mataafae Jordan & Seale 1906
[CAAB 37 282068]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

Originally described from Samoa, this pipefish is widely distributed throughout the Indo-West Pacific.

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

Widely distributed in the tropical Indo-west Pacific, Red Sea and East Africa, across the Indian Ocean to Tonga and Samoa, north to Taiwan, south to northern Australia; inhabits inshore rocky and coral reef areas from tidal pools to depths of more than 15 m.

Size:

To 140 mm TL

Food and feeding:

Preys 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 92 mm SL.

Eggs: Not described

Larvae: Morphologically similar to adults at birth.

Characteristics:

Meristics: D 21-26; A usually 3; P 12-14; Trunk rings 15; Tail rings 34-36.

Head and body: Body long, head short, head length 10.2-13.0 in SL; snout short, length 2.5-4.0 in head length; median dorsal snout ridge discontinuous with 2-3 semi-isolated spines or ridge-like crests; usually with 2 lateral snout spines; dorsal rim of orbit not strongly elevated; spines lacking on postorbital or posterior supraorbital regions; opercular ridge incomplete in subadults-adults.

Fins: Pectoral fin base protruding laterally; caudal fin small, about length of eye.

Colour:

Mainly mottled reddish to brown, often with two series of small pale spots on trunk and one on tail.

Similar species:

H. mataafae is superficially similar to H. spinirostris, differing in having a modal count of 15 versus 14 trunk rings and fewer lateral snout spines. In addition H. spinirostris has posterior supraopecular spines and notched superior ridges that are lacking in H. mataafae.

Fisheries:

None.

Conservation Status:

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

Remarks:

The ornamentation of the median dorsal snout ridge increases with age. Juveniles (25-50 mm SL) have two spine-like projections on the snout, while larger individuals (larger than 60-70 mm) have 2-3 spiny ridges. Individuals from different geographic locations are variable and H. mataafae may comprises a species-complex.

Other common names:

None.

Original citation:

Corythoichthys mataafae Jordan & Seale 1906, Bull. Bur. Fish. (U.S.) for 1905 25: Upolu Island, Samoa.

Etymology:

Halicampus is from the Greek, als, alis for salt and the Greek, kampe meaning bend.

References:

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

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

Dawson, C.E. 1986. Family No. 145: Syngnathidae (pp. 445-458). In Smith, M.M. & P.C. Heemstra. Smiths' Sea Fishes. Macmillan South Africa, Johannesburg. 1047 pp, 144 pls.

Fricke, R. 2004. Review of the pipefishes and seahorses (Teleostei: Syngnathidae) of New Caledonia, with descriptions of five new species. Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde. Serie A (Biologie). 66S: 1-66.

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.

Jordan, D.S. & A. Seale. 1906. The Fishes of Samoa. Description of the species found in the Archipelago, with a provisional checklist of the fishes of Oceania. Bull. Bur. Fish. (U.S.) for 1905 25: 173-455.

Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Seahorses, Pipefishes and their Relatives. TMC Publishing, Chorleywood, UK. 240 pp. [as Halicampus sp 2].

Kuiter, R.H. & T. Tonozuka. 2001. Pictorial guide to Indonesian reef fishes. Part 1. Eels- Snappers, Muraenidae - Lutjanidae. Zoonetics, Australia. 302 pp.

Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian reef fishes. A comprehensive guide to the coral reef fishes of Micronesia. 3rd revised ed. Coral Graphics, Guam. 330 pp, 192 pls.

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.