Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) >
Syngnathiformes (Pipefishes and seahorses) >
Solenostomidae (Ghost pipefishes)
Etymology: Solenostomus: Greek, solen = tube + Greek, stoma = mouth (Ref. 45335).
Environment / Climate / Range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 0 - 25 m (Ref. 37816), usually 0 - 25 m (Ref. 37816). Tropical
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 17.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 5463)
Dorsal
spines
(total): 5;
Dorsal
soft rays
(total): 17-22;
Anal
spines: 0;
Anal
soft rays: 17 - 22;
Vertebrae: 32 - 33. Color variable (from brown to pink or yellow) with small black and white spots; 2 elongate black spots between first 3 dorsal spines (Ref. 4263). Total body plates 27-35. Caudal fin truncate, rounded, or lanceolate. Caudal peduncle short or lost in large females (Ref. 48635). Pelvic fin sexually dimorphic, forming a brood pouch in females (Ref. 9829).
Indo-Pacific: Red Sea and East Africa to Fiji, north to southern Japan, south to Australia.
Mostly pelagic until they settle on the substrate for breeding (Ref. 48635). Uncommon species found in coastal reefs and weedy areas (Ref. 5463). Monogamous, always in pairs (Ref. 52884). Females carry the eggs in their pelvic fins that are modified to form a brood pouch (Ref. 205). Feed on small crustaceans (Ref. 1602). Also seen in lagoon reefs, often on algal flats or seagrass beds (Ref 90102).
Orr, J.W. and R.A. Fritzsche, 1993. Revision of the ghost pipefishes, family Solenostomidae (Teleostei: Syngnathoidei). Copeia 1993(1):168-182.
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 90363)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: public aquariums
More information
ReferencesAquacultureAquaculture profileStrainsGeneticsAllele frequenciesHeritabilityDiseasesProcessingMass conversion
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources
Estimates of some properties based on empirical models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82805): PD
50 = 0.5625 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00389 (-0.16711 - 0.17489), b=3.12 (3.03 - 3.21), based on all LWR estimates for this BS (Ref.
93245).
Trophic Level (Ref.
69278): 3.8 ±0.50 se; Based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
69278): .
Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100) .