| Syngnathidae (Pipefishes and seahorses), subfamily: Syngnathinae |
| 18 cm OT (male/unsexed); 13.6 cm OT (female) |
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reef-associated; brackish; marine; depth range 10 - 80 m, non-migratory |
| Indo-Pacific: India and Sri Lanka to Australia; north to China. |
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Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-20. Description: (based on 53 specimens): Adult height: 5.3-16.0cm. Rings: 11+36 (33-39). Snout length: 2.2-2.3 (2.0-2.4) in head length. Dorsal fin rays: 17-18 (16-20) covering 2+1 rings. Pectoral fin rays: 17 (16-19). Coronet: low-medium with four or five sharp spines. Spines: well-developed, blunt tipped or quite sharp, usually longer on first, fourth, seventh and eleventh trunk rings and with a regular series of longer spines on tail. Other distinctive characters: single or double cheek spines; males with very strongly developed spines bordering pouch (blunt-tipped); no nose spine (or very small); spine in front of coronet not excessively developed. Color pattern: variable; plain, or pale with darker ‘saddles’ across dorsolateral surface and darker cross-bands on tail. |
| Found in the continental shelf, on muddy, sandy bottoms, rubbles and in coral reefs (Ref. 75154); in a sponge or seagrass habitat, often attached to hard and soft coral species (Ref. 128284). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205). Maximum length is based on a straight-line length measurement from upper surface (ignoring spines) of first trunk ring, to tip of tail; female 13.8 cm (Ref. 42735). Less desirable for traditional Chinese medicine, but use may increase with the rise in patent medicines. Taken in trawls (Ref. 42735). |
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Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 12 October 2016 (A2d) Ref. (130435)
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| harmless |
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Reported from Khanh Hoa, Minh Hai, Kien Giang, Ha Tien, Vinh Binh (Ref. 30915), Hon Ong and Phu Quoc Island, on soft bottom areas with silt, sand and seagrass (Ref. 129070). Also Ref. 52031, 53181, 115213. |
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