Hippichthys | |
---|---|
H. spicifer | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Syngnathiformes |
Family: | Syngnathidae |
Subfamily: | Syngnathinae |
Genus: | Hippichthys Bleeker, 1849 |
Type species | |
Hippichthys heptagonus Bleeker, 1849 | |
Synonyms | |
Hippichthys is a genus of pipefishes native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans and the landmasses around them. This genus contains freshwater, brackish water and marine species.
There are currently six recognized species in this genus: [1]
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.
Pipefishes or pipe-fishes (Syngnathinae) are a subfamily of small fishes, which, together with the seahorses and seadragons, form the family Syngnathidae.
Solenostomus, also known as ghost pipefishes, false pipefishes or tubemouth fishes, is a genus of fishes in the order Syngnathiformes. Solenostomus is the only genus in the family Solenostomidae, and includes six currently recognized species. Ghostpipefishes are related to pipefishes and seahorses. They are found in tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific.
Solegnathus is a genus of pipefish native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Doryrhamphus and Dunckerocampus, popularly known as flagtail pipefish, are two genera of fishes in the family Syngnathidae. They are found in warm, relatively shallow waters of the Indo-Pacific, with a single species, D. paulus, in the eastern Pacific. Most of these pipefishes are very colourful, and are fairly popular in the marine aquarium hobby despite requiring special care and not being recommended for beginners.
Microphis is a genus of pipefishes within the family Syngnathidae. Members of this genus are notable among the Syngnathidae for residing in mainly fresh and brackish waters. Adults breed in coastal rivers, streams, or lakes, and fertilized eggs are carried by the male pipefish in a brood pouch extending along his entire ventral surface.
Corythoichthys is a genus of pipefishes of the family Syngnathidae. All species in the genus are found in the tropical Indian and Pacific Oceans on reefs or rubble bottoms. Relationships and taxonomy within the genus are still in debate, but there may be at least 23 species.
Dunckerocampus is a genus of pipefishes one of two genera known as the flagtail pipefishes. This genus is native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans where they are usually found in reef environments. These species are elongated and have a maximum length between 10 and 20 centimetres, with D. chapmani being the only species with a maximum length below 15 centimetres (5.9 in). Their tail is red with a whitish edge, and in some species there is a white or yellow spot in the center. All except D. baldwini have vertical red/brown and yellow/white stripes on their body.
Choeroichthys is a genus of pipefishes of the family Syngnathidae native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Trachyrhamphus is a genus of pipefishes native to the Indian and western Pacific Oceans.
Doryichthys, river pipefish, is a genus of Asian freshwater pipefishes.
Micrognathus is a genus of pipefishes, with these currently recognized species:
Phoxocampus is a genus of pipefishes native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans, with these currently recognized species:
Hippichthys cyanospilos, commonly known as the blue-spotted pipefish or bluespeckled pipefish, is a marine fish belonging to the family Syngnathidae, native from the Indo-Pacific area.
Hippichthys albomaculosus is a species of freshwater pipefish of the family Syngnathidae. It has been found in fresh and brackish waters on Vanua Levu Island, in Fiji, adjacent to mangroves. Little is known about the feeding habits of this species, but it is likely to feed on small crustaceans similar to other pipefish. This species is ovoviviparous, with males carrying eggs in a brood pouch before giving birth to live young.
Hippichthys heptagonus, the belly pipefish, is a species of freshwater pipefish of the family Syngnathidae. It is found from Kenya and South Africa to the Solomon Islands, and from southern Japan to New South Wales. It is a demersal species, living in the lower parts of rivers and streams, estuary habitats such as mangroves and tidal creeks, and occasionally in large lakes. It feeds on small crustaceans, such as copepods and cladocerans, as well as dipteran and ephemopteran larvae. It can grow to lengths of 15 centimetres (5.9 in). This species is ovoviviparous, with females depositing eggs on the males, who in turn give birth to live young several weeks later. Males may brood at 6.5–7.5 centimetres (2.6–3.0 in).
The short-keel pipefish is a species of fish of the family Syngnathidae. It is known from Darwin to the Torres Strait and southern Papua New Guinea. It lives in coastal fresh and brackish habitats, such as mudflats, mangroves, gravel, sandy and rocky habitats, and coral and shell rubble. It can grow to lengths of 12 centimetres (4.7 in). It is expected to feed on small crustaceans such as copepods, shrimps and mysids, similar to other pipefish. This species is ovoviviparous, with males carrying eggs in a brood pouch before giving birth to live young. Males may brood at 7.8 centimetres (3.1 in).
The beady pipefish is a species of pipefish of the family Syngnathidae. It is found in the Indo-West Pacific, from the western Persian Gulf, to the north central Indian Ocean, to Japan and Australia. It lives in the lower parts of streams and rivers, estuarine habitats such as seagrass beds and mangroves, and shallow inshore habitats, where it can grow to lengths of 16–18 centimetres (6.3–7.1 in). It is expected to feed on small crustaceans, similar to other pipefish. This species is ovoviviparous, with males carrying eggs in a brood pouch before giving birth to live young. Average brood size is 177.
Hippichthys spicifer, commonly known as bellybarred pipefish, banded freshwater pipefish, or blue spotted pipefish, is a species of pipefish of the family Syngnathidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea and East Africa to Sri Lanka and Samoa. It lives in shallow coastal and estuarine habitats such as mangroves, tidal creeks, and the lower reaches of rivers, where it can grow to lengths of 18 centimetres (7.1 in). It is expected to feed on small crustaceans and mosquito larvae. This species is ovoviviparous, with males brooding eggs in a brood pouch before giving birth to live young. It is reproductively active all year, with males and females reaching sexual maturity at 10.8 and 10 centimetres respectively. Brood size can vary significantly, from 114 to 1764, with an average of 604.4 plus or minus 322.8.