Corythoichthys benedetto

Corythoichthys benedetto
Raja Ampat islands, West Papua, Indonesia, December 2016.
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Syngnathiformes
Family:	Syngnathidae
Genus:	Corythoichthys
Species:	C. benedetto
Binomial name
Corythoichthys benedetto G. R. Allen & Erdmann, 2008

Corythoichthys benedetto, commonly known as Benedetto's pipefish, is a species of marine fish of the family Syngnathidae. It inhabits the Indo-West Pacific, near Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. ^[1] It is found on algae-covered rocky surfaces and gorgonian sea fans at depths of 5 to 20 metres (16 to 66 ft), where it can grow to lengths of around 7 centimetres (2.8 in). ^[2] It is usually found alone, although it can be found in groups of up to four individuals. This species is ovoviviparous, with males brooding when they are at lengths of 5 to 5.5 centimetres (2.0 to 2.2 in). ^[2]

Etymology

The specific name and common name honour the late Italian prime minister Benedetto Craxi (1934-2000). ^{[3] [4]}

Description

Corythoichthys benedetto grows up to lengths of 7 centimetres (2.8 in). ^[2] It may be identified by its body pattern of 12 thin white bars along the length of its body, each preceded by a thick red bar. These bars may be punctuated by variable-sized white ocelli. ^[5]

References

1. Gillespie, K. & Pollom, R. (2016). "Corythoichthys benedetto". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T65364798A67619385. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T65364798A67619385.en .
2. Allen, G.R. and M.V. Erdmann, 2008. Corythoichthys benedetto, a new pipefish (Pisces:Syngnathidae) from Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. Aqua Int. J. Ichthyol. 13(3-4):121-126
3. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Corythoichthys benedetto". FishBase . February 2018 version.
4. Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara (22 September 2018). "Order SYNGNATHIFORMES: Families AULOSTOMIDAE, CENTRISCIDAE, FISTULARIIDAE, SOLENOSTOMIDAE and SYNGNATHIDAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
5. Dianne J. Bray, Corythoichthys benedetto in Fishes of Australia, accessed 23 Nov 2017, http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/4849

Further reading

• iNaturalist