Soft Coral Pipefish

Uniform light cream for the type material of West Indian Ocean species; the west Pacific form has a banded pattern (Ref. 48635).Description: Characterized by head, trunk and tail with numerous diffuse brown bars; absence of anal fin; 10 caudal rays; rings 12-14 + 56-60; continuous superior trunk and tail ridges; inferior trunk ridge ends at anal ring; confluent lateral trunk ridge with inferior tail ridge; length of snout 2.3-4.0 in head length; depth of snout 1.2-3.4 in snout length; head length 12.4-17.6 in SL (Ref. 90102).

Male carries the eggs in a brood pouch (Ref. 205).

Dorsal soft rays (total): 2733

Caught by surface dip-nets from coral rubbles and coral heads from 0 to 21.9 m. Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205).