| Syngnathidae (Pipefishes and seahorses), subfamily: Hippocampinae |
| 13 cm OT (male/unsexed); max. reported age: 5 years |
|
demersal; depth range 1 - 46 m, non-migratory |
| Southwest Pacific: Solomon Islands and Australia. Records from southern Mozambique and Natal, South Africa are misidentifications of Hippocampus camelopardalis. International trade is monitored through a licensing system (CITES II, since 5.15.04) and a minimum size of 10 cm applies. |
|
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-17; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 4-4. Description: (based on 31 specimens): Adult height: 6.0-13.0cm. Rings: 11+35 (32-36). Snout length: 2.3 (2.0-2.7) in head length. Dorsal fin rays: 18 (16-20) covering 2+1 rings.
Pectoral fin rays: 16-17 (15-18). Coronet: high, inclined backwards with seven sharp angles or points at top. Spines: variable, low to moderately developed and rounded to quite sharp. Other distinctive characters: long snout; prominent, sharp eye spines; single or double cheek spines; head quite narrow.
Color pattern: dull greyish brown to yellow; often mottled brown with a net-like pattern of reticulating dark lines; may have ‘saddles’ of paler color across dorsolateral surface. |
| In shallow, weedy inshore areas and Zostera seagrass beds; also on sponges. Also under jetties on holdfasts of kelp, and on other man-made structures such as shark nets. Diurnal and site faithful (Ref. 30915). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205). |
|
Data deficient
(Ref. 96402)
|
| harmless |
|
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