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Reticulate Pipefish Corythoichthys flavofasciatus Rüppell 1838
[CAAB 37 282032]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

This small pipefish is often found in schools and is widespread throughout the Indian and western central Pacific oceans.

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

Widespread in the tropical Indo-west-central Pacific; inhabits seagrass beds or sand and rubble habitats near inshore lagoon and seawards coral reefs at 1-25m.

Size:

Reaches 180 mm TL.

Food and feeding:

Feeds mainly on copepods but also on small isopods and ostracods.

Reproduction and early life history:

Reproduction: Ovoviviparous (gives birth to live young). The eggs are brooded by the males in a pouch under the tail. The pouch protects the dorsal surface and side of the egg mass, leaving the ventral surface exposed. Males begin brooding at 72 mm TL.

Males and females form monogamous pairs and tend to remain within their home range.

Eggs: Eggs are deposited in 2-17 transverse rows within a gelatinous matrix.

Larvae: Planktonic and morphologically similar to the adults; translucent postlarval dorsal and ventral finfolds persist in 39-58 mm SL.

Characteristics:

Meristics: D 26-36; P 13-17; Trunk rings 15-17; Tail rings 23-39.

Head and body: Head length in SL 6.8-10.9; short snout, 2.3 in HL; snout depth in snout length 3.5-6.3; prenuchal and nuchal ridges smooth; median snout ridge usually with slight dorsal emargination; eye prominent.

Fins: Dorsal fin origin usually before the anterior margin of the first tail ring; dorsal fin base in HL 0.7-1.2.

Colour:

Head with prominent lateral stripes, snout with red spots; trunk with irregularly banded pattern that may be broken up in large blotches and reticulations, yellow streaks or bands in the pale interspaces; dorsal fin often with rows of translucent spots; males with a blue-black spot on ventral surface of the anal ring.

Similar species:

C. flavofasciatus is the only pipefish in which males have a persistent blue-black blotch on the ventral surface of the anal ring. Females and small males may be confused with C. intestinalis but can be distinguished by the higher average head length in SL ratio of C. flavofasciatus (9.2 versus 8.0) and the long median ventral blotch on the head and 1^st trunk ring which is absent in C. intestinalis.

Fisheries:

Sometimes collected for the aquarium trade.

Conservation Status:

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

Remarks:

Blue-black blotch around the anus of the male is more intense during courtship.

Other common names:

Reticulated Pipefish, Yellowbanded Pipefish, Yellow-banded Pipefish

Original citation:

Syngnathus flavofasciatus Rüppell 1838, Fische des Rothen Meeres Vol. 4: 144, El Tûr, north of Sharm el Sheikh, Gulf of Suez, depth 0-9.1m.

Etymology:

Corythoichthys is from the Greek, korys, korythos for helmet and the Greek, ichtys meaning fish.

References:

Allen, G.R. & M.V. Erdmann. 2008. Corythoichthys benedetto, a new pipefish (Pisces: Syngnathidae) from Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Aqua, International Journal of Ichthyology 13(3-4): 121-126.

Dawson, C.E. 1977. Review of the Pipefish genus Corythoichthys with description of three new species. Copeia 1977(2): 295-338

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

Dawson, C.E. & J.E. Randall. 1975. Notes on Indo-Pacific Pipefishes (Pisces: Syngnathidae) with description of two new species. Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 88(25): 263-280.

Hoese DF, Bray DJ, Paxton JR & Allen GR (2006). Fishes. In Beesley PL & Wells A (eds.) Zoological catalogue of Australia. Volume 35 ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia 2178 pp.

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

Michael, S.W. (1998). Reef Fishes Volume 1. A Guide to Their Identification, Behaviour and Captive Care. Microcosm Ltd. Shellbourne, Vermont 624 pp.

Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian reef fishes: a comprehensive guide to the coral reef fishes of Micronesia, 3^rd revised and expanded edition. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam. 330 pp.

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

Randall, J.E. 2005. Reef and shore fishes of the South Pacific. New Caledonia to Tahiti and the Pitcairn Islands. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu, Hawaii. 720 pp.

Randall, J.E., G.R. Allen & R.C. Steene. 1997. Fishes of the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Sea. 2^nd Ed., revised and expanded. Crawford House Publishing Pty Ltd. Bathurst, NSW, Australia. 557 pp.

Rüppell, W.P.E. 1838. Neue Wirbelthiere zu der Fauna von Abyssinien gehörig. Fische des Rothen Meeres. Frankfurt Vol. 4: 81-148.