Choeroichthys latispinosus

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Choeroichthys latispinosus
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Syngnathiformes
Family: Syngnathidae
Genus: Choeroichthys
Species:
C. latispinosus
Binomial name
Choeroichthys latispinosus
Dawson, 1978 [2]

Choeroichthys latispinosus, also known as the Muiron Island pipefish or Muiron pipefish, is a species of pipefish native to the western coast of Western Australia, [3] named for the its recorded sighting on South Murion Island. [4] It is thought to inhabit the area from Port Denison to Brecknock Island in the eastern Kimberley region. [4]

Contents

Described by Charles Dawson based on a single specimen in 1978, [2] the species is still known from only three localities [1] and very few specimens. [4]

Description

The holotype, a female, measures 27.5 mm (1.08 in) SL. Ground colour is dark brown; there are pale white blotches and mottling. Dorsal fin is narrowly edged with black or brown. The snout has a protruding, spinous lateral ridge, to which its specific name latispinosus refers: it is derived from the Latin latus (side) and spinosus (thorny). [2] The dorsal fin has 22 rays, the pectoral fin has 20, the anal fin 4 and the caudal fin has 10. There are 19 trunk rings and 20 tail rings. It grows to a length of 50 millimetres (2.0 in) in total length. [5]

Distribution

C. latispinosus is endemic to the coastal waters of Western Australia from Port Denison to Brecknock Island in the east Kimberley. [5]

Reproduction

Along with other members of its genus, males of this species brood the young in a simple pouch beneath their trunk or midsection. [6] Females transfer eggs to the male, and he broods them until they hatch and then gives birth to live young.

Habitat and diet

The species inhabits coastal coral reefs, and is thought to feed on small planktonic crustaceans such as copepods and isopods, as is exhibited by other more well-known syngnathid fishes. [7]

Conservation

Choeroichthys latispinosus is listed as Data Deficient on the IUCN's Red List of Threatened Species. [1] The major threat to this species is the loss and degradation of its coral reef habitat. Further research is required in order to understand the species full range, ecology, abundance, and trend in population size. [1] It is a listed marine species under Australia's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. [5]

Related Research Articles

Syngnathidae Family of fishes

The Syngnathidae is a family of fish which includes seahorses, pipefishes, and seadragons. The name is derived from Greek, σύν (syn), meaning "together", and γνάθος (gnathos), meaning "jaw". This fused jaw trait is something the entire family has in common.

The chain pipefish is a pipefish species. It inhabits the western Atlantic from Virginia, Bermuda and northern Gulf of Mexico to Campeche and Jamaica, but is absent from the Bahamas. It is a marine subtropical reef-associated fish, up to 38 cm length.

Gulf pipefish Species of fish

The Gulf pipefish is a member of the family Sygnathidae.

Choeroichthys is a genus of pipefishes of the family Syngnathidae native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans.

Robust ghost pipefish Species of fish

The robust ghost pipefish, also known as the blue-finned ghost pipefish, Racek's ghost pipefish, robust-snouted ghost pipefish or the squaretail ghost-pipefish, is a species of false pipefishes belonging to the family Solenostomidae.

<i>Kaupus costatus</i> Species of fish

The deepbody pipefish is a species of pipefish endemic to Australia where it is only found along the southern coast. This species grows to a length of 12.9 centimetres (5.1 in) SL. This species is the only known member of the monotypic genus Kaupus which is named in honour of the ichthyologist Johann Jakob Kaup (1803-1873).

Halimeda ghost pipefish Species of fish

The Halimeda ghost pipefish, Solenostomus halimeda, is a species of false pipefishes belonging to the family Solenostomidae.

<i>Corythoichthys amplexus</i> Species of fish

Corythoichthys amplexus, known commonly as the brown-banded pipefish, is a species of marine fish in the family Syngnathidae.

<i>Choeroichthys brachysoma</i> Species of fish

Choeroichthys brachysoma is a species of marine fish of the family Syngnathidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and East Africa to the Society Islands, the Philippines, Guam, and northern Australia. It inhabits tide pools, seagrass, rocky coastlines, mangroves, and coral reef areas at depths of 2–25 metres (6.6–82.0 ft), where it can grow to lengths of 7 centimetres (2.8 in). C. brachysoma shows sexual dimorphism, the females are slender with two rows of black spots along their flanks, while the males have a shorter, wider body marked with scattered, small white spots. This species is ovoviviparous, with males carrying eggs in a brood pouch until giving birth to live young. Males may brood at 3.5–4 centimetres (1.4–1.6 in).

Choeroichthys cinctus is a species of marine fish of the family Syngnathidae. It is found in the Western Pacific Ocean, from Indonesia and the Philippines to Samoa, where it usually inhabits sheltered reef habitats at depths over 10 metres (33 ft). It can grow to lengths of 10 centimetres (3.9 in). This species is ovoviviparous, with males carrying eggs in a brood pouch until giving birth to live young. Males may brood at 3 centimetres (1.2 in).

Choeroichthys sculptus, the sculptured pipefish, is a species of marine fish of the family Syngnathidae.

<i>Doryrhamphus negrosensis</i> Species of fish

Doryrhamphus negrosensis, commonly known as Negros pipefish, flagtail pipefish, Masthead Island pipefish or Queensland flagtail pipefish, is a species of marine fish of the family Syngnathidae. It is found in the Western Pacific Ocean, from Borneo to Vanuatu and the Yaeyama Islands to the Rowley Shoals and the Great Barrier Reef. It lives in mud flats and reefs, both coral and rocky, where it is often associated with sea urchins. It is a rather solitary species which may be found in pairs or small groups. It inhabits depths to 9 metres (30 ft), and can grow to lengths of 6.2 centimetres (2.4 in). Although little is known of its feeding habits, it is expected to feed on harpacticoid copepods, gammarid shrimps, and mysids, similar to other pipefish, it may also act as a cleaner fish like other species in the genus Doryrhamphus. This species is ovoviviparous, with males carrying eggs before giving birth to live young. Males may brood at 4.3 cm. It is a small bluish to bluish-grey pipefish which has a pale stripe along the dorsal side of the head and snout, and a dark fan-like caudal fin which has white margins and an orange base.

Gibbs’ pipefish is a species of marine fish of the family Syngnathidae. It is found in the Western Pacific, from the Great Barrier Reef to Palau, the Chesterfield Islands and New Caledonia. Unconfirmed specimens have been reported off of the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. It lives in coastal sandy or rubble habitats, as well as areas with sponges and coralline algae, where it can grow to lengths of 8 centimetres (3.1 in). It is expected to feed on small crustaceans, similar to other pipefish. This species is ovoviviparous, with males brooding eggs and giving birth to live young. Males may brood at lengths of around 5 centimetres (2.0 in). The specific name honours P. E. Gibbs, who collected the type material.

<i>Halicampus mataafae</i> Species of fish

The Samoan pipefish, or brown pipefish, is a species of marine fish of the family Syngnathidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea, to Sodwana Bay, to Taiwan, the Marshall Islands, and Samoa, where it inhabits tidepools and coral and rocky reefs to depths of 15 metres (49 ft). It is a solitary species with cryptic habits and is rarely observed. It is likely to feed on small crustaceans, and can grow to lengths of 14 centimetres (5.5 in). This species is ovoviviparous, with males carrying the fertilised eggs in a brood pouch, the folds of which fall well short of the centre of the egg-filled pouch, eventually giving birth to live young. The specific name honours Mataafa, a former king of Samoa. It is a listed marine species under the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

Phoxocampus tetrophthalmus, also known as the trunk-barred pipefish is a species of marine fish belonging to the family Syngnathidae. This species can be found in reefs and tide pools of the Indo-Pacific specifically Indonesia, the Philippines, and Guam. They have also been observed in the Andaman, Cocos-Keeling, and Ryukyu islands. Their diet likely consists of small crustaceans Reproduction occurs through ovoviviparity in which the males brood eggs before giving live birth.

Nannocampus pictus, also known as the reef pipefish is a species of marine fish belonging to the family Syngnathidae. They can be found inhabiting reefs and seagrass beds of the western Indian Ocean and the eastern coast of Australia including the Great Barrier Reef. Members of this species can grow to lengths of 10 cm and their diet likely consists of small crustaceans such as copepods. Reproduction occurs through ovoviviparity in which the males brood eggs before giving live birth.

Nannocampus subosseus, also known as the bony-headed pipefish is a species of marine fish belonging to the family Syngnathidae. They can be found inhabiting reefs and tide pools only in the region of Shark Bay to Esperance, Western Australia. Members of this species can grow to lengths of 12 cm and their diet likely consists of small crustaceans such as copepods. Reproduction occurs through ovoviviparity in which the males brood eggs before giving live birth.

Nannocampus weberi, also known as the reef-flat pipefish is a species of marine fish belonging to the family Syngnathidae. They can be found inhabiting reefs in the Lesser Sunda Islands of Indonesia particularly the islands of Sumba and Bali. Their diet likely consists of small crustaceans such as copepods. Reproduction occurs through ovoviviparity in which the males brood eggs before giving live birth.

<i>Vanacampus phillipi</i> Species of fish

Vanacampus phillipi, also known as the Port Phillip pipefish is a species of marine fish belonging to the family Syngnathidae. They can be found inhabiting seaweed and seagrass beds along the southern coast of Australia from Perth to Jervis Bay, New South Wales including the coast of Tasmania. Their diet consists of small crustaceans such as copepods, amphipods, and mysid shrimps. Reproduction occurs through ovoviviparity in which the males brood eggs before giving live birth to 50 or less offspring.

Chelmon muelleri, the blackfin coralfish or Muller's coralfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish, a butterflyfish in the family Chaetodontidae. It is a reef fish which is endemic to Australia.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Fiegenbaum, H.; Pollom, R. (2015). "Choeroichthys latispinosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2015: e.T65364521A67619048. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T65364521A67619048.en . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 Dawson, C. E. (1978). "Description of a new Western Australian pipefish (Choeroichthys latispinosus), with notes on Syngnathus tuckeri Scott and Nannocampichthys Hora and Mukerji". Records of the Western Australian Museum. 6 (4): 413–421.
  3. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2014). "Choeroichthys latispinosus" in FishBase . November 2014 version.
  4. 1 2 3 "Choeroichthys latispinosus". Fishes of Australia. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  5. 1 2 3 Thompson, Vanessa J. & Dianne J. Bray. "Choeroichthys latispinosus". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 25 May 2018.
  6. Dawson, C. E. 1985. Indo-Pacific Pipefishes (Red Sea to the Americas). Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, Ocean Springs, Mississippi.
  7. Kendrick, A. J. & Hyndes, G. A. (2005). "Variations in the dietary compositions of morphologically diverse syngnathid fishes". Environmental Biology of Fishes. 72 (4): 415–427. doi:10.1007/s10641-004-2597-y.