| Family: |
Syngnathidae (Pipefishes and seahorses), subfamily: Nerophinae |
| Max. size: |
8.5 cm TL (male/unsexed) |
| Environment: |
reef-associated; marine; depth range 1 - 30 m |
| Distribution: |
Western Pacific: Japan to Indonesia. Also from Korea Rep. |
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal soft rays (total): 21-23; Anal soft rays: 4-4. Body orange yellow when fresh. Trunk rings 20, tail rings 15. Lateral trunk ridge continuous with inferior tail ridge; superior trunk and tail ridges extending forward over 4 trunk rings. Three serrated ridges dorsally on snout, the median ridge heavily serrated. Body ridges illustrating single spine except anterior six of superior trunk ridge and 3 lateral trunk ridge which has double spines. No ventrolateral projection on the snout.
Description: Characterized by orange color with blue lateral stripe; large orange spot on middle of caudal fin and two smaller spots at base; length of snout 1.9-2.2 in head length; depth of snout 4.8-6.2 in snout length; head length 4.3-5.3 in SL (Ref. 90102). |
| Biology: |
Inhabits small caves in sublittoral rocky reefs. Reported from tide pools to depths of at least 25 m offshore, but mostly seen in shallow depths (Ref. 48635). An active cleaner that shares crevices with shrimps, large mud crabs and sometimes moray eels (Ref. 48635). Solitary or in pairs near sponges and Diadema sea urchins (Ref 90102). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205). Spawns from the end of May to September. |
| IUCN Red List Status: |
Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 28 January 2016 Ref. (130435)
|
| Threat to humans: |
harmless |
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