Festucalex gibbsi Dawson, 1977
Gibbs' pipefish

Family:  Syngnathidae (Pipefishes and seahorses), subfamily: Syngnathinae
Max. size:  8 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  demersal; marine; depth range 22 - 91 m
Distribution:  Western Pacific: Irian Jaya and the Great Barrier Reef. Recently reported from the Chesterfield Islands (Ref. 11897).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 21-24; Anal soft rays: 4-4. Description: Characterized by dark brown with 11-12 narrow pale bars across dorsum; 10 caudal rays; rings 18 + 32 - 33; superior and inferior trunk ridges continuous with respective tail ridges; lateral trunk ridge not deflected near anal ring, ends midlaterally between last trunk ring and fourteenth tail ring; length of snout 2.1-2.4 in head length; depth of snout 3.2-4.0 in snout length; head length 7.5-7.9 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Found on the continental shelf (Ref. 75154). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205). Also seen in open sand and rubble areas (Ref 90102).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 22 July 2016 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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 Not for publication.