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Gale's Pipefish Campichthys galei Duncker 1909
[CAAB 37 282039]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

This small endemic pipefish is known from relatively few specimens.

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

Endemic to temperate southern Australian waters, from Spencer Gulf in South Australia to Shark Bay, Western Australia; usually found in shallow shelly or rubble substrates, and in sparse seagrass beds to about 18m; occasionally inhabits rocky reefs.

Size:

Reaches 60 mm in length.

Food and feeding:

Unknown, although likely to prey on small crustaceans.

Reproduction and early life history:

Reproduction: Very little is known of the biology of this species. Campichthys galei  is ovoviviparous (gives birth to live young) and males brood the eggs in an enclosed pouch with an everted closure on the underside of trunk. Males may be brooding at 36.5mm.

Eggs: Undescribed

Larvae: Undescribed but are likely to be pelagic and morphologically similar to the adults at birth.

Characteristics:

Meristics: D 16-17; A 4; P 7-8; C 8; Trunk rings 16-17; Tail rings 32-36; Subdorsal rings 1.00-0.00 + 2.50-3.75 = 3.50-4.50.

Head and body: Body slender and elongate, trunk shallow, lateral trunk ridge usually ending on 1st tail ring. Snout length 30-37% HL, snout depth 48-67% snout length. Median dorsal snout ridge not plate-like, little elevated, usually with 2-3 crests or projections. Opercular ridge prominent, angled upward towards gill opening. Lateral trunk ridge usually ending on first tail ring. Tail rather thick at tip, not prehensile.

Fins: A short-based dorsal fin is located centrally on back; anal fin tiny, below dorsal fin origin; caudal fin small, rounded.

Colour:

Overall tan, yellowish brown or dark brown. Body either plain or with pale blotches on head and about 12 diffuse pale bars crossing top and upper part of sides; sometimes with large red blotch behind pectoral fin.

Similar species:

Similar to Campichthys tryoni which has 10 caudal fin rays and a more elevated and plate-like snout ridge.

Fisheries:

None. Although Campichthys galei may inhabit trawl grounds, it is unlikely to be taken as bycatch due to its small size.

Conservation Status:

Australian Government Legislation: Campichthys galei is a listed Marine species under under s248 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act 1999 Marine Species).

State Government Legislation: All members of the family Syngnathidae (seadragons, pipefish, pipehorses) are protected in South Australia, under the Fisheries (General) Variation Regulations 2006 of the South Australian Fisheries Act.

Remarks:

Most specimens have been collected in fine-meshed trawls.

Other common names:

None

Original citation:

Ichthyocampus galei Duncker 1909, Fauna Süd.-Aust. 2(15): 240, Point Peron, ca. 55 km south of Perth, Western Australia, 7 m, (neotype; original type locality, Freycinet Estuary, Shark Bay, Western Australia, holotype destroyed).

Etymology:

Campichthys from the Greek, kampe = curvature, bent and the Greek, ichthys = fish. The species is named for Mr Gale.

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. Web version published by Reef Watch, South Australia. http://www.reefwatch.asn.au/pages/bin/view/Publications/SamsccGales_Pipefish_-_Gales_Pipefish Accessed 2009-04-13.

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

Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (2008). Campichthys galei in Species Profile and Threats Database, Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Canberra. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/sprat. Accessed 2008-04-13@09:58:19.

Duncker, G. 1909. Pisces. Teil I. Syngnathidae. In Die Fauna Südwest-Australiens, Ergebnisse der Hamburger südwest-australischen Forschungsreise 1905, herausgegeben von W. Michaelsen und R. Hartmeyer. Fauna Süd.-Aust. 2(15): 233-250.

Dawson, C.E. 1994. Family Syngnathidae. pp. 440-474, figs. 391-426 In Gomon M.F., C.J.M. Glover & R.H. Kuiter (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.

Hutchins, J.B.  2005. Checklist of marine fishes of the Recherche Archipelago and adjacent mainland waters. In Wells, F., Walker, D. & Kendrick, G. (eds) The Marine Flora and Fauna of Esperance, Western Australia. Western Australian Museum, Perth, W.A.

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. http://www.environment.gov.au/coasts/publications/marine-fish-action/index.html