| Family: |
Syngnathidae (Pipefishes and seahorses), subfamily: Syngnathinae |
| Max. size: |
18 cm OT (male/unsexed); 13.6 cm OT (female) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range 10 - 80 m, non-migratory |
| Distribution: |
Indo-Pacific: India and Sri Lanka to Australia; north to China. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-20. Description: (based on 53 specimens): Adult height: 5.3-16.0cm. Rings: 11+36 (33-39). Snout length: 2.2-2.3 (2.0-2.4) in head length. Dorsal fin rays: 17-18 (16-20) covering 2+1 rings. Pectoral fin rays: 17 (16-19). Coronet: low-medium with four or five sharp spines. Spines: well-developed, blunt tipped or quite sharp, usually longer on first, fourth, seventh and eleventh trunk rings and with a regular series of longer spines on tail. Other distinctive characters: single or double cheek spines; males with very strongly developed spines bordering pouch (blunt-tipped); no nose spine (or very small); spine in front of coronet not excessively developed. Color pattern: variable; plain, or pale with darker ‘saddles’ across dorsolateral surface and darker cross-bands on tail. |
| Biology: |
Found in the continental shelf, on muddy, sandy bottoms, rubbles and in coral reefs (Ref. 75154); in a sponge or seagrass habitat, often attached to hard and soft coral species (Ref. 128284). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205). Maximum length is based on a straight-line length measurement from upper surface (ignoring spines) of first trunk ring, to tip of tail; female 13.8 cm (Ref. 42735). Less desirable for traditional Chinese medicine, but use may increase with the rise in patent medicines. Taken in trawls (Ref. 42735). |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 12 October 2016 (A2d) Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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