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Three-keel Pipefish Campichthys tricarinatus Dawson 1977
[CAAB 37 282040]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

This small, rare, coral reef-dwelling pipefish is only known from a few female specimens.

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

Endemic to tropical northern Australia from the Montebello Islands, WA to Thursday Island, Torres Strait, Qld; inhabits inshore coral reef and rubble areas at about 3-11 m.

Size:

Attains 50 mm SL

Food and feeding:

Unknown, but likely to prey on small invertebrates, especially crustaceans.

Reproduction and early life history:

Reproduction: Presumed to be ovoviviparous (gives birth to live young) with males brooding the eggs brooded in an enclosed pouch (adult males unknown). 

Eggs: Not described

Larvae: Not described but likely to be pelagic and morphologically similar to adults at birth.

Characteristics:

Meristics: A 3; P 10-11; C 10; Trunk rings 15; Total rings 45.

Head and body: Median dorsal snout ridge in 3 parts, with a low ridge behind the upper jaw followed by two well-separated knob-like projections (not a continuous elevated projection); principle trunk and tail ridges distinct; eye encircled by 5-6 large flaps.

Fins: Pectoral fin base with a single, well developed ridge.

Colour:

Pale in preservative; colour in life unknown.

Similar species:

Differs from other species in the genus by having a low number of trunk and total rings (15 and 45 versus 16-17 and 48-52). The snout ridge configuration is similar to C. galei, but differs in having 10 caudal fin rays (8 in C. galei).

Fisheries:

None

Conservation Status:

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

Remarks:

No adult males have been collected.

Other common names:

None

Original citation:

Campichthys tricarinatus Dawson 1977, Bull. Mar. Sci. 27(4): 641, fig. 14, Baleine Bank, northwestern Australia.

Etymology:

Campichthys is from the Greek, kampe = curvature or bent, and the Greek, ichthys = fish. The species name tricarinatus is for the tripartite, or three part snout ridge.

References:

Dawson, C.E. 1977. Synopsis of syngnathine pipefishes usually referred to the genus Ichthyocampus Kaup, with description of new genera and species. Bull. Mar. Sci. 27(4): 595-650.

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

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.

Larson, H.K. & R.S. Williams. 1997. Darwin Harbour fishes: a survey and annotated checklist. In Hanley, J.R., G.Caswell, D. Megirian & H.K. Larson, (eds.), Proceedings of the Sixth International Marine Biological Workshop. The Marine Flora and Fauna of Darwin Harbour, Northern Territory, Australia. Mus. and Art. Galler. N. Terr. and Aust. Sci. Assoc. 1997: 339-380.

Paulus, T. 1999. Family Syngnathidae. pp 2264-2276, In Carpenter K.E. & V.H. Niem. (eds) The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide For Fisheries Purposes. FAO Vol. 4. pp 2069-2790.

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