Trachyrhamphus longirostris Kaup, 1856
Straightstick pipefish
photo by Shao, K.T.

Family:  Syngnathidae (Pipefishes and seahorses), subfamily: Syngnathinae
Max. size:  40 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 16 - 91 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: Red Sea and western Indian Ocean eastward to Japan and eastern Australia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 26-30; Anal soft rays: 4-4. Distinguished by the lack of appendages on the trunk in the juveniles, head at no angle to the body, and color patterns (Ref. 48635). Description: Characterized by greyish brown color with whitish striations on head; body with white specks; 9 caudal rays; rings 21-23 + 41-48; discontinuous superior trunk and tail ridges; inferior trunk ridge ends at anal ring; confluent lateral trunk ridge with inferior tail ridge; length of snout 2.2-2.8 in head length; depth of snout 2.9-4.7 in snout length; head length 11.6-16.0 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Found on the continental shelf (Ref. 5316). Enters sheltered muddy estuaries where laying out in the open on the bottom (Ref. 48635). Most specimens from dredge and trawl collections (Ref. 5316). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205). Solitary on mud bottoms (Ref 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 19 November 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


Source and more info: www.fishbase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.