Syngnathes

Syngnathinae

Pipefishes

Classification
Ostéichthyen Syngnathiformes Syngnathidae Syngnathinae Corythoichthys Dunckerocampus Kyonemichthys Halicampus Phycodurus Syngnathoides Syngnathus Trachyrhamphus Hippocampinae Centriscidae Fistularidae Solenostomidae Aulostomidae
242 espèces

Classification

Ostéichthyen

Syngnathiformes

Syngnathidae

Syngnathinae
Corythoichthys

Dunckerocampus

Kyonemichthys

Halicampus

Phycodurus

Syngnathoides

Syngnathus

Trachyrhamphus
Hippocampinae

Centriscidae
Fistularidae
Solenostomidae
Aulostomidae

242 espèces

Références web
fishbase fishesofaustralia FAO	en.wiki aquaportail

Références web

fishbase

fishesofaustralia

FAO

en.wiki

aquaportail

Description
worldwide in warm to temperate waters (some in brackish and fresh water) a series of bony rings encloses elongate body (highly modified skeleton formed into armored plating) with longitudinal ridges very small mouth, opening upwards, at the end of a long tubelike snout, without teeth dorsal fin single, principal organ of locomotion very small anal fin no pelviennes, with or without pectoral tail long, thin, and snake-like, avec à son extrémité une nageoire caudale en forme d'éventail very small gill openings weak swimmers, moving slowly by means of rapid movements of the dorsal fin (except flagtail pipefishes which have more developed caudal fins) feed on minute invertebrates sucked up the prey into a tubular snout generally inhabit sheltered areas in coral reefs or seagrass beds dioecism, ovovivipare courtship between male and female pipefish involves lengthy and complicated shows of display during pipefish copulation, which signifies the termination of the courtship dance, the female transfers her eggs through a small ovipositor into the male brood pouch or onto the special patch of skin on the male’s ventral body surface; the ventral seams are not opened until weeks later when the male pipefish give birth bearers <males who have a brood pouch in which the eggs are laid and where they are fertilized and incubated (supplying them with nutrients and oxygen through a placenta-like connection) young are born free-swimming & independent of their parents; fully developed miniature versions of their parents, assuming the same behaviors as their parents immediately.


Identification keys to Syngnathidae (fishbase)

Etymologies		Source
Syngnathidae	Greek, syn = with, together + Greek, gnathos = jaw	fishbase
Corythoichthys	Greek, korys, korythos = helmet + Greek, ichtys = fish	fishbase
Dunckerocampus	From Duncker, an ichthyologist and taxonomist that recognized four Gobiidae families (1928) + Gr, kampe = bent.	fishbase



Hippocampes

Hippocampus barbouri 2009 aquarium (Monterey) by Jim G (via Wikimedia Commons)	Hippocampus bargibanti 2019 Cabilao (Ph) ©mda (via INaturalist)	Hippocampus denise 2014 Wakatobi (ID) by Christian Gloor (via Wikimedia Commons)


Hippocampus guttulatus 2002 by Massimiliano De Martino (via Wikimedia Commons)	Hippocampus hippocampus 2007 by Drow male (via Wikimedia Commons)	Hippocampus histrix 2012 Timor by prilfish (via Wikimedia Commons)


Hippocampus kuda 2009 Lembeh ©prilfish (via Wikimedia Commons)	Hippocampus spinosissimus 2012 Lembeh (Sulawesi) ©mda (via INaturalist)
Hippocampes




Corythoichthys flavofasciatus
fishbase / doris / souslesmers / en.wiki / liboupat2	Synonymes Network pipefish / Syngnathe à Réseaux / Reticulate pipefish / Yellow-banded pipefish	Rüppell, 1838 / LC / ITIS 166513

2011 Hurghada (Egypt) ©mda (via GooglePhotos)	2011 Hurghada (Egypt) ©mda (via GooglePhotos)	2012 Nakari (Egypt) ©mda (via INaturalist)


2013 Hurghada (Egypt) ©mda (via INaturalist)	2013 Hurghada (Egypt) ©mda (via INaturalist)	2011 Hurghada (Egypt) ©mda (via GooglePhotos)


2011 Hurghada (Egypt) ©mda (via GooglePhotos)	2012 Maldives ©Rainer Kretzberg (via fishbase)	2011 Hurghada (Egypt) ©mda (via GooglePhotos)


2013 Bitung (Sulawesi) by Mark Rosenstein (via Encyclopedia of Life)	1996 Red Sea ©Randall, John E. (via fishbase)	2012 Maldives ©Rainer Kretzberg (via fishbase)


2009 Cebu (Ph) by Klaus Stiefel (via Encyclopedia of Life)	2014 Solomon Is. by Mark Rosenstein (via Encyclopedia of Life)	2013 Cebu (Ph) by Carmelo López Abad (via Encyclopedia of Life)


2016 Polynesie by Hectonicus (via Encyclopedia of Life)	2010 Visayas (Ph) by Klaus Stiefel (via Encyclopedia of Life)	2016 Aqaba ©Trevor Meyer (via fishbase)


caudale, 2009 Cebu (Ph) by Klaus Stiefel (via Encyclopedia of Life)	2012 Réunion by Philippe Bourjon (via Encyclopedia of Life)	2009 Visayas (Ph) by Klaus Stiefel (via Encyclopedia of Life)


2010 Marsa Alam (Egypt) by Gianemilio Rusconi (via fishbase)	Kenya ©Dawn Goebbels (via fishbase)


2017 Kenya ©Dawn Goebbels (via fishbase)	2016 Maldives ©Trevor Meyer (via fishbase)	2009 Guam by David Burdick NOAA (via Wikimedia Commons)


2006 Sharm el Sheik (Egypt) by Fernando Herranz Martín (via Wikimedia Commons)	2006 Hurghada (Egypt) by Fernando Herranz Martín (via Wikimedia Commons)	2016 Lembeh ©terence zahner (via INaturalist)
Indo-WCPacifiq & Red sea	Serpentine à traits jaunes	tropical
yellow and brown stripes; the snout is red; orange stripes and brilliant light blue spots on males
2-30cm / 12-14 cm	monogame; 200 à 400 œufs	timide, craintif; usually found in pairs
Corythoichthys flavofasciatus




Corythoichthys intestinalis
fishbase / souslesmers / liboupat2 / fishesofaustralia	Synonymes Scribbled pipefish / Syngnathe flûte	Ramsay, 1881 / LC / ITIS 166516

2011 Raja Ampat ©JMP (via ozp/INaturalist)		2011 Raja Ampat ©JMP (via ozp/INaturalist)


1995 Ambon (Indonesia) ©Randall, John E. (via fishbase)	2015 Queensland (Au) ©Jason Prince (via Wikimedia Commons)	2014 Okinawa by Patrick Randall (via Encyclopedia of Life)


2014 Solomon Is. by Mark Rosenstein (via Encyclopedia of Life)		2014 Okinawa by Patrick Randall (via Encyclopedia of Life)


2014 Sorong (ID) by Elias Levy (via Wikimedia Commons)	2014 Cebu (Ph) by Jayvee Fernandez (via Wikimedia Commons)	2014 Anilao (Ph) by Rickard Zerpe (via Wikimedia Commons)


2014 Sorong (ID) by Elias Levy (via Wikimedia Commons)	2014 Sorong (ID) by Elias Levy (via Wikimedia Commons)	2017 Lembeh by q phia (via Wikimedia Commons)
WCPacifiq	Syngnathe gribouillé	tropical
plutôt clair avec de larges bandes assez peu marquées sur les flancs qui ne se prolongent pas sur le dos; tête couverte de nombreux traits assez marqués formant un motif en réseau; museau parsemé de petits points noirs: caudale rouge pâle bordée de blanc
3-68m / 16cm	monogame; brood pouch under the tail	in shallow sandy or mixed sand, rubble, or coral areas; usually in pairs or may form small aggregations
Corythoichthys intestinalis




Corythoichthys ocellatus
fishbase / ozanimals / fishesofaustralia / australianmuseum	Synonymes Ocellated pipefish	Herald, 1953 / LC / ITIS 644967

2012 Lembeh (Sulawesi) ©mda (via INaturalist)	2012 Lembeh (Sulawesi) ©mda (via INaturalist)	2012 Lembeh (Sulawesi) ©mda (via GooglePhotos)


2012 Lembeh (Sulawesi) ©mda (via INaturalist)	2008 Coral Sea (Au) by Nigel Marsh (via fishesofaustralia)	2008 Lembeh (Sulawesi) by Jens Petersen (via Wikimedia Commons)


2013 Bitung (Sulawesi) by Mark Rosenstein (via Encyclopedia of Life)	2014 Richard Zerpe (via Encyclopedia of Life)	2012 Australia by Lesley Clements (via Encyclopedia of Life)


Madang (PNG) by Jan Messersmith (via fishesofaustralia)	Lembeh by Rickard Zerpe (via fishesofaustralia)	Lembeh by Rickard Zerpe (via fishesofaustralia)
WCentral Pacifiq	Serpentine ocellée	tropical
pale with orange spots (cerclés de brun) and darker streaks on the body and tail; snout long and slender; distinct tail; brown and whitish speckles on snout
<12m / 10-12 cm	monogame; brood pouch under the tail	in shallow sheltered reefs; discret; often seen in pairs
Corythoichthys ocellatus




Corythoichthys schultzi
fishbase / doris / australianmuseum / souslesmers / aquaportail / ozanimals / nomadica / fishesofaustralia	Synonymes Schultz's pipefish	Herald, 1953 / LC / ITIS 644970

2013 Hurghada (Egypt) ©mda (via INaturalist)	2013 Hurghada (Egypt) ©mda (via GooglePhotos)	2019 Philippines ©Dan Schofield (via INaturalist)


Corythoichthys flavofasciatus? 2011 Hurghada (Egypt) ©mda (via INaturalist)	2011 Hurghada (Egypt) ©mda (via INaturalist)	2009 Kwajalein Atoll (Marshall Is.) by Scott Johnson (via fishbase)


2006 Tasik Ria (Sulawesi) by Jens Petersen (via Wikimedia Commons)	2007 Hurghada by Hectonichus (via Wikimedia Commons)


2009 Réunion ©Philippe Bourjon (via Wikimedia Commons)	2008 by Steve Childs (via Wikimedia Commons)	2000 Jeddah (Saudi Arabia) ©Field, Richard (via fishbase)


Lembeh by Ian V Shaw (via fishesofaustralia)	2009 Queensland (Au) by Lakshmi Sawitri (via fishesofaustralia)	2001 Queensland (Au) by Erik Schlogl (via fishesofaustralia)


2013 Queensland (Au) ©Anne Hoggett (via fishesofaustralia)	Lizard Island (Au) ©Anne Hoggett (via fishesofaustralia)	2015 Sharm el-Sheij (Egipto) by BBM Explorer (via Wikimedia Commons)
Indo & Pacifiq & Red sea	Serpentine annelée	tropical
fond jaune-pâle avec des anneaux brun-violacé ponctués de taches blanches ou jaunes et violet-foncé, lignes horizontales rouge-orangé; long museau fin, tubulaire, de couleur rosée, parsemé de petits points violet-foncé; ligne noire traverse l’œil; caudale en forme de pagaie de couleur rosée, bordée d’un liseré blanc
2-30m / 15-18 cm	monogame, brood pouch under the tail	timide; adults in pairs or small aggregations
Corythoichthys schultzi

Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus
fishbase / reef-guardian / souslesmers / aquaportail / doris / nomadica / fishesofaustralia	Synonymes Ringed pipefish / Syngnathe zébré / Banded Pipefish	Bleeker, 1853 / DD / ITIS 166545

2019 Dauin (Ph) ©mda (via INaturalist)	2019 Cambaquiz (Ph) ©mda (via INaturalist)	2012 Lembeh (Sulawesi) ©mda (via INaturalist)


at night, 1998 Manado (Sulawesi) ©Randall, John E. (via fishbase)	2012 Lembeh (Sulawesi) ©mda (via INaturalist)	2011 Raja Ampat ©mda (via GooglePhotos)

2012 Lembeh (Sulawesi) ©mda (via GooglePhotos)	2019 Cambaquiz (Ph) ©mda (via GooglePhotos)	2011 Raja Ampat ©mda (via GooglePhotos)


2013 Bitung (Lembeh-Sulawesi) by Mark Rosenstein (via Encyclopedia of Life)	2014 Timor by Mark Rosenstein (via Encyclopedia of Life)	2016 Raja Ampat by Mark Rosenstein (via Encyclopedia of Life)


Lembeh by Graham Edgar (via fishesofaustralia)	Philippines by Klaus Stiefel (via fishesofaustralia)	pregnant male with eggs on the underside, Philippines by Klaus Stiefel (via fishesofaustralia)


2013 Visayas (Philippines) ©Carmelo López Abad (via Encyclopedia of Life)	2016 Raja Ampat by Mark Rosenstein (via Encyclopedia of Life)	2015 Bali by Mark Rosenstein (via Encyclopedia of Life)
Indian & WCPacifiq & Red sea	Flûte rayée	tropical
banded light yellow-dark brown with one dark band crossing opercle; extrémité du museau taché de rouge; caudale ovale rouge avec le bord blanc et une tache blanche au milieu
2-30m / 19 cm		solitary, pairs or in small aggregations in caves or under ledges; timide, calme
Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus

Dunckerocampus naia
fishbase / doris / picture-worl / underwaterkwaj	Synonymes Naia pipefish	Allen & Kuiter, 2004 / LC / ITIS

	2011 Raja Ampat ©mda (via INaturalist)	2011 Raja Ampat ©mda (via INaturalist)


2019 Dauin (Ph) ©Dan Schofield (via INaturalist)	1981 Marshall Is ©Roger Rittmaster (via INaturalist)	Marshall Is by Scott Johnson (via fishbase)
WPacifiq	Syngnathe du Nai'a	tropical
anneaux alternating pale yellowish to white and maroon bars jsq sur le museau; caudal fin mainly red with broad white upper and lower margins
15-40m / 12cm	poche incubatrice directement sous l’abdomen, laissant les oeufs ainsi parfaitement visibles	solitary or in pairs in caverns or under ledges
Dunckerocampus naia




Dunckerocampus pessuliferus
fishbase / souslesmers / liveaquaria / fishesofaustralia	Synonymes Yellowbanded pipefish	Fowler, 1938 / LC / ITIS 644988

1997 Ambon (Indonesia) ©Randall, John E. (via fishbase)	2009 Bali ©mda (via INaturalist)	2018 Exmouth (Au) ©Glen Whisson (via INaturalist)


2012 Sorong (ID) by Elias Levy (via Wikimedia Commons)	Bali by divemecressi (via fishesofaustralia)	2016 Wakatobi (ID) by Christian Gloor (via Wikimedia Commons)


2018 aquarium (Berlin) by JSutton93 (via Wikimedia Commons)	2010 Bali by Bernd (via Wikimedia Commons)	2017 Dauin (Ph) by Rebecca Lloyd (via fishesofaustralia)
Western Central Pacifiq & Eastern Indian Ocean	Syngnathe rayé	tropical
jaune vif avec de larges anneaux dont certains sont parfois interrompus, de couleur variable allant du brun, marron ou rouge foncé; long museau jaune ou orangé avec des bandes diffuses et l'extrémité évasée; bouche oblique orientée vers le haut; dorsale et pectorales translucides; caudale est ovale de couleur rouge avec une tache jaune au milieu et parfois le bord supérieur blanc
<44m / 16-18 cm	brood pouch under the tail; œufs de couleur rose et de taille assez importante	solitaire ou form pairs; usually swim along the bottom around large remote coral heads on mud slopes; très calme, active cleaning behavior
Dunckerocampus pessuliferus




Halicampus macrorhynchus
fishbase / souslesmers / australianmuseum / fishesofaustralia	Synonymes Ornate pipefish / Whiskered Pipefish	Bamber, 1915 / LC / ITIS 644996

2011 Raja Ampat ©mda (via INaturalist)	2013 Bitung (Lembeh-Sulawesi) by Mark Rosenstein (via Encyclopedia of Life)	2013 Bitung (Lembeh-Sulawesi) by Mark Rosenstein (via Encyclopedia of Life)


Timor by Nick Hobgood (via fishesofaustralia)	2019 Raja Ampat by Rickard Zerpe (via Wikimedia Commons)	Lembeh ©Mark Rosenstein (via fishesofaustralia)


1991 Bega (Fiji Islands) ©Randall, John E. (via fishbase)		2006 Timor by Nick Hobgood (via Wikimedia Commons)


2009 Lembeh by Bernard DUPONT (via fishesofaustralia)	2014 Timor (ID) by prilfish (via Encyclopedia of Life)


2009 by Silke Baron (via Wikimedia Commons)	2007 Dahab (Sinaï/Egypt) by Bernd (via Wikimedia Commons)	2006 Timor by Nick Hobgood (via Wikimedia Commons)


2014 Dumaguete (Ph) by Karen Honeycutt (via fishbase)	2008 Dumaguete (Ph) by Karen Honeycutt (via fishbase)	juvénile, Raja Ampat by Elias Levy (via fishesofaustralia)
Indo-WPacifiq & Red Sea	Syngnathe orné	tropical
colors vary with habitat, colorful on algae-rubble and dull on sand; mottled green, yellow, red or brown; 10 indistinct dark bars on back and sides; many fine appendages on the head and body; paired leaf-like skin flaps along the body
3-25m 18 cm video	brood pouch under the tail	solitaire ou in pairs, on sand or algae covered reefs; aime rester sur le sable
Halicampus macrorhynchus

Kyonemichthys rumengani
fishbase / souslesmers / reefguide / thewebsiteofeverything	Synonymes Thread pipefish	Gomon, 2007 / LC / ITIS

2009 Lembeh by Stephen Childs (via Wikimedia Commons)	2009 Lembeh by Stephen Childs (via Wikimedia Commons)	2009 Lembeh by Steve Childs (via Encyclopedia of Life)


2017 Romblin (Ph) by Rickard Zerpe (via Wikimedia Commons)	2020 Lembeh ©franca2020 (via INaturalist)	2016 Lembeh © terence zahner (via INaturalist)


male, 2008 Lembeh by W.Tan (via fishbase)	2013 Philippines by Chris Thorn (via fishbase)	2016 Lembeh by Christian Gloor (via Wikimedia Commons)
Sulawesi	Lembeh seadragon	tropical
tiny, filiforme, tête inclinée, museau court avec une crête médiane, nb tubercules sur tt le corps, la tête et la queue; queue aussi lg que le corps; gris clair, jaunâtre; dorsale translucide
15-20m / 2.7cm / <1mm thick	video	très sédentaire, on debris on mud and silt bottom, look like a small strain of algae
Kyonemichthys rumengani

Phycodurus eques
fishbase / fr.wiki / aquaportail / ADW / fishesofaustralia	Synonymes Leafy seadragon	Günther, 1865 / LC / ITIS 645069

2007 aquarium (Pittsburgh) by Derek Ramsey (via Wikimedia Commons)	2007 aquarium (Pittsburgh) by Derek Ramsey (via Wikimedia Commons)	2009 by sarahemcc (via Wikimedia Commons)


2006 aquarium by João Carvalho (via Wikimedia Commons)	2014 Australie by Peter Southwood (via Wikimedia Commons)	aquarium (Monterey) by Joseph C Boone (via Wikimedia Commons)


2006 By Wendy Rathey (via Wikimedia Commons)	By "©Ta-graphy" (via Wikimedia Commons)	2006 by a & k (via Wikimedia Commons)
S-Australie	Dragon des mers feuillu	temperate
longues protubérances squameuses en forme de feuilles présentes sur tout le corps, semblables aux feuilles des sargasses; nageoires transparentes; long bec; couleurs changeantes: vert, jaune ou même rouge
4-30m / 35cm / 8 ans video	250 eggs (rose vif) are incubated by males on the underside of the tail, where they are embedded in spongy tissue; brood pouch under the tail	over sand patches close to reefs with kelp, solitaire ou couple, non sédentaire, spectacular examples of camouflage
Phycodurus eques




Syngnathus acus
fishbase / doris / mer-littoral / marlin / souslesmers / cotebleue	Synonymes Greater pipefish / Syngnathe aiguille	Linnaeus, 1758 / NE / ITIS 166464

2011 Rab (Croatia) by Roberto Pillon (via fishbase)	2011 Rab (Croatia) by Roberto Pillon (via fishbase)	2011 Rab (Croatia) by Roberto Pillon (via fishbase)


2011 Rab (Croatia) by Roberto Pillon (via fishbase)	2014 Gibraltar by Whodden (via Encyclopedia of Life)	2015 Gibraltar by Whodden (via Encyclopedia of Life)


2014 Croatia ©Roberto Pillon (via fishbase)	2016 Slovenia ©Roberto Pillon (via fishbase)	2011 Croatia ©Roberto Pillon (via fishbase)


2019 aquarium (Belgium) by Vdkdaan (via Wikimedia Commons)	2011 Croatia ©Roberto Pillon (via Wikimedia Commons)	2019 Lannion (Fr22) © Corentin Morvan (via INaturalist)
Eastern Atlantiq Méditerranée & Black sea	Grand syngnathe	frais à subtropical
Light greenish to dark brown in color with variable markings; snout cylindrical; elongated bump on top of head behind eye
<110m / jsq 50cm	3 times each year; male’s brood pouch under the tail; up to 400 eggs may be found in a single pouch; gestation about 5 weeks; size at birth 1.7-3.5cm	démersal, in coastal and estuarine waters
Syngnathus acus




Syngnathoides biaculeatus
fishbase / reef-guardian / en.wiki / fishesofaustralia	Synonymes Crocodile Pipefish	Bloch, 1785 / LC / ITIS 166589

2009 Singapore by Ria Tan (via Encyclopedia of Life)	2008 Singapore by Ria Tan (via Encyclopedia of Life)	2008 Singapore by Ria Tan (via Encyclopedia of Life)


aquarium (Bangkok) by Erlend Bjørtvedt (via fishesofaustralia)	India by Sushant Sanaye (via fishbase)


1995 Cebu (Philippines) ©Randall, John E. (via fishbase)	2006 aquarium (Bangkok) by TheMadBaron (via Wikimedia Commons)	2006 aquarium (Bangkok) by TheMadBaron (via Wikimedia Commons)
Indo-WCPacifiq & Red Sea	Alligagor pipefish	tropical
body elongated and tetrahedral; snout tipped by a pair of short tentacles; tail is long and tapering (dégressif) & prehensile without caudal fin; variable green to brown or grey, depending on habitat
<10m / 20-29cm	monogamous relationship; 60 to 200 eggs; brood pouch under the tail; video	in protected coastal waters or floating weeds
Syngnathoides biaculeatus

Trachyrhamphus bicoarctatus
fishbase / souslesmers / australianmuseum / fishesofaustralia	Synonymes Double-ended pipefish / Bentstick Pipefish	Bleeker,1857 / LC / ITIS 644882

2019 Dauin (Ph) ©mda (via INaturalist)	2019 Dauin (Ph) ©mda (via INaturalist)	2012 Lembeh (Sulawesi) ©mda (via INaturalist)


2009 Gilimanuk (Bali) ©mda (via INaturalist)	1996 Red Sea ©Randall, John E. (via fishbase)	2009 Dahab (Egypt) by Bernd (via Wikimedia Commons)


2016 Aqaba ©Trevor Meyer (via fishbase)	2016 Aqaba ©Trevor Meyer (via fishbase)	2015 Lembeh by Graham Edgar (via Wikimedia Commons)


2014 Dahab (Egypt) by prilfish (via Wikimedia Commons)	2012 Philippines by Elias Levy (via Wikimedia Commons)	2015 Malaysie by Rickard Zerpe (via Wikimedia Commons)
Indo-WPacific & Red sea	Syngnathe courbé	tropical
serpentiforme, long & slender; brownish in color, usually with small spots on trunk
1-42m / 40cm video	dioecism, ovovivipare, external brooders, bearer <mâle in a pouch under the tail	usually among algae or seagrasses; mvt lents et ondulants, prone to currents
Trachyrhamphus bicoarctatus

MàJ 13/03/2023