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Whiteface Pipefish Cosmocampus darrosanus Dawson & Randall 1975
[CAAB 37 282054]

Distribution Map see an interactive map here (new window)

The Whiteface Pipefish lives in very shallow coral reef areas.Size:

Distribution, ecology and habitat:

Tropical Indo-west Pacific; Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia; inhabits inshore tide pools and coral reef flats to 3 m.

Size:

Reaches 80 mm TL.

Food and feeding:

Unknown - likely to feed on copepods, 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 that protects the dorsal surface and side of the egg mass, leaving the ventral surface exposed; males begin brooding at 43 mm TL.

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

Larvae: Morphologically similar to adults.

Characteristics:

Meristics: D 22-23; P 11-12; Trunk rings 16-17; Tail rings 29-31.

Head and body: Head length 7.9-10.1 in SL; short snout, length 2.6-3.1 in HL, snout depth 1.7-2.3 in snout length; median dorsal snout ridge emarginate or with 1-2 low dorsal projections; dermal flaps present on eye and elsewhere on head. Superior trunk and tail ridges discontinuous; lateral trunk ridge straight, ends near anal ring.

Colour:

Mottled brownish; dorsum of body often with several irregular pale bars; upper snout and in front of eyes bony white.

Similar species:

The combination of 16 trunk rings, 29-30 tail rings, 23 dorsal fin rays, smooth ridges and short snout clearly separates C. darrosanus from congeners. C. darrosanus is most similar to the smaller species C. balli (Hawaiian endemic) and C. banneri but differs markedly in colour pattern and some meristics.

Fisheries:

None.

Conservation Status:

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

Other common names:

D'Arros Pipefish, White Pipefish.

Original citation:

Syngnathus darrosanus Dawson & Randall 1975, Proc. Biol. Soc. Wash. 88(25): 269,  off eastern side of D'Arros Island, Amirante Isles, depth 0-2.1 m.

Etymology:

Cosmocampus is from the Greek, kosmos meaning order, organisation and kampe for bent, curvature. Species name darrosanus is in reference to the type-locality, D'Arros Island.

References:

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

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, 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. Chorleywood, UK: TMC Publishing. 240 pp.

Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian reef fishes. A comprehensive guide to the coral reef fishes of Micronesia. 3rd revised ed. Coral Graphics, Guam. 330 pp., 192 pls.

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.