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Upside-down Pipefish Heraldia nocturna Paxton 1975
[CAAB 37 282071]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

The Upside-down Pipefish is the only species in the genus Heraldia. Individuals are typically active only at night. During the day, they are often seen swimming upside-down in caves or under ledges.

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

Endemic to temperate waters of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia; inhabits inshore rocky reefs under ledges, in holes, crevices or small caves at 2-30 m.

Size:

Reaches 100 mm SL.

Food and feeding:

Feeds on small planktonic crustaceans.

Reproduction and early life history:

Reproduction: Ovoviviparous (gives birth to live young).The eggs are brooded by the males on the open undersurface of the trunk. The brood area extends from the 2^nd to the 16^th trunk ring and lacks pouch plates or membranous folds. Males may begin brooding at 63 mm SL.

Eggs: Eggs are deposited in open membranous sockets formed from a firm gelatinous matrix on the ventral surface of the trunk rings. Males brood about 50-100 eggs.

Larvae: Newly hatched larvae measure 5-6 mm TL , are bright yellow-green with some scattered melanophores; fin folds present, fin rays not developed.

Characteristics:

Meristics: D 23-27; A 4; P 18-22; C 11; Trunk rings 16-19; Tail rings 14-16.

Head and body: Body moderately elongated; trunk shallow, body posterior to dorsal fin much shorter than that before dorsal fin; head aligned with body; snout of moderate length (38-48% head length) and depth (23-44% snout length); opercle with complete longitudinal ridge and with supplemental ridges radiating above and below; posterior angles of rings somewhat elevated and produced to spine-like points; tail not prehensile.

Fins: Dorsal fin closer to tip of tail than to head, base of moderate length; anal fin small, below rear half of dorsal fin; caudal fin large, membranes broad and deeply incised between protruding tips of rays; pectoral fins small. New South Wales individuals have a larger caudal fin than those on the south coast.

Colour:

Two distinct colour forms exist. Individuals from New South Wales are mostly dark brown to blackish, sometimes with irregular tan or white blotches. Southern specimens are a mottled yellowish-brown with brown markings and whitish bands.

Similar species:

This monotypic genus is most similar to other pipefish genera with an abdominal brood area and small spines on the posterior ends of the body ring ridges. Heraldia differs from Doryrhamphus and Dentirostrum with a lack of brood pouch flaps, from Dunckerocampus by the shorter snout and fewer tail rings and from Oostethus and Maroubra by the position of the dorsal fin mostly on the trunk.

Fisheries:

This species is collected for the aquarium industry. A permit was granted by the Australian Department for Environment and Heritage several years ago for the annual collection of 10 juvenile Ringback Pipefish from Victorian waters for aquaculture purposes.

Conservation Status:

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

State Government Legislation: Listed as protected under New South Wales, Victorian, Tasmanian and South Australian Fisheries Management Acts.

Remarks:

Usually seen in pairs during the day swimming upside-down on the ceilings of caves or under rock ledges; ventures out into the open at night. Upside-down Pipefish live in captivity for between 5 and 10 years. The eastern and western populations may represent two species.

Other common names:

Upside Down Pipefish, Upsidedown Pipefish, Western Upside-down Pipefish.

Original citation:

Heraldia nocturna Paxton 1975, Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 40(15): 439-447, Watson's Bay, Sydney Harbour (NSW).

Etymology:

The genus Heraldia was named in honour of Earl Stannard Herald who recognised the first specimens as a new genus and provided a brief description of the species before his death. The specific name nocturna refers to the nocturnal activity of this species.

References:

Baker, J.L. 2008. Marine Species of Conservation Concern in South Australia: Volume 1 - Bony and Cartilaginous Fishes. Report for the South Australian Working Group for Marine Species of Conservation Concern. http://www.reefwatch.asn.au/pages/bin/view/Publications/SamsccSYNGNATHIDAE

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

Dawson, C.E. 1994. Family Syngnathidae. pp. 440-474 figs 391-426, In Gomon M.F., Glover C.J.M. & Kuiter R.H. (eds) The fishes of Australia's south coast. State Print, Adelaide. 992 pp, 810 figs.

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. 

Martin-Smith K.M. & Vincent A.C.J. 2006. Exploitation and trade of Australian seahorses, pipehorses, sea dragons and pipefishes (Family Syngnathidae). Oryx 40(2): 141-151.

Paxton, J.R. 1975. Heraldia nocturna, a new genus and species of Pipefish (family Syngnathidae) from eastern Australia with comments on Maroubra perserrata Whitley. Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 40(15): 439-447.

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.