Hairy Pipefish

Small and slender, and have a short, thick snout, continuous superior trunk and tail ridges, small pectoral fins, and a dorsal fin that originates on tail rings 5-9. Body usually has numerous hair-like appendages which provide camouflage.

Male carries the eggs in a brood pouch (Ref. 205). Up to 20 eggs are incubated by the male in a brood pouch formed from laterally expanded flaps of skin on the underside of the tail. Newly emerged larvae may remain in the pouch (Ref. 31838).

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 13 - 15; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 2

Found in inshore waters (Ref. 75154).

Inhabit lower reaches of rivers, estuaries or other protected inshore habitats (Ref. 5316). Found mostly in algal or Zostera beds (Ref. 5316), rarely at depths of more than a few meters (Ref. 31838). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205).