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Spinysnout Pipefish Halicampus spinirostris Dawson & Allen 1981
[CAAB 37 282070]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

This poorly known species has numerous distinctive spines on the snout.

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

Known from the tropical Indo-west Pacific - Indonesia, northern Australia, the South China Sea, Vietnam across to American Samoa; inhabits shallow coral rubble areas in lagoons and intertidal zones of inshore coral reefs in 5-10 m.

Size:

To 120 mm TL

Food and feeding:

Not reported, but likely to prey on small crustaceans.

Reproduction and early life history:

Reproduction: Ovoviviparous (gives birth to live young). The eggs are brooded by the males in a pouch on the tail and develops below 13 tail rings. The pouch plates are angled somewhat laterally.

Eggs: Not described.

Larvae: Not described.

Characteristics:

Meristics: D 19-20; A usually 3; P 13-14; Trunk rings 14; Tail rings 33-35.

Head and body: Head short, length 10.0-11.3 in SL; snout short, length 3.1-3.8 in head length; snout depth 1.7-2.1 in snout length; median dorsal snout ridge discontinuous with 2-3 semi-isolated spines or ridge-like elevations; usually with three spines on side of snout and with spines or spine-like ridges on postorbital and posterior supraorbital regions of head; dorsal rim of orbit elevated; principle body ridges elevated.

Fins: Pectoral fin base protruding laterally with one distinct ridge.

Colour:

Pale to dark brown with around 4 broad dark bands on trunk, each separated by a thin white bar; large blackish blotch below eye and smaller ones behind eye, on operculum and pectoral fin base.

Similar species:

H. spinirostris shares the modal count of 14 trunk rings, upturned opercular ridge and presence of one or more lateral spines or projections on the snout with H. nitidis, H. brocki and H. dunkeri.

Fisheries:

None.

Conservation Status:

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

Remarks:

Known from relatively few specimens.

Other common names:

Spiny-snout Pipefish.

Original citation:

Micrognathus spinirostris Dawson & Allen 1981, J. R. Soc. West. Aust. 64(2): 65, off Tantabiddi Creek, North West Cape, Western Australia, 21°55'S, 113°15'E, depth 10 m.

Etymology:

Halicampus is from the Greek, als, alis for salt and the Greek, kampe meaning bend. The specific name spinirostris means ‘spiny nose or snout' in reference to the lateral snout spines.

References:

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

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

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

Dawson, C.E & G.R. Allen. 1981. Micrognathus spinirostris, a new Indo-Pacific pipefish (Syngnathidae). J. R. Soc. West. Aust. 64(2): 65-68.

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.

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

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.