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.
Syngnathus is a genus of fish in the family Syngnathidae found in marine, brackish and sometimes fresh waters of the Atlantic, Indian and Pacific Ocean. Fossils of these species are found from the Oligocene to the Pleistocene. They are known from various localities of Greece, Italy, Germany and United States.
Stigmatopora is a genus of pipefishes 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.
The black-striped pipefish is a species of fish in the family Syngnathidae. It is found in the eastern Atlantic from the southern Gulf of Biscay to Gibraltar, also in the Mediterranean and Black Seas. As the introduced species it is mentioned in the Caspian Sea and fresh waters of its basin.
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.
Doryrhamphus is a genus of pipefishes, one of the two genera colloquially known as flagtail pipefishes and are popular in the aquarium trade. The members of this genus are native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans where they inhabit reef environments. The species in this genus have a maximum length of 14 centimetres (5.5 in) or less, with D. janssi being the only species that surpasses 8.5 centimetres (3.3 in). Most species have a horizontal blue line along their body, and all have a whitish-edged tail that is marked contrastingly with black, red or yellow.
Halicampus is a genus of pipefishes of the family Syngnathidae, containing 12 described species.
Choeroichthys is a genus of pipefishes of the family Syngnathidae native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
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.
Campichthys is a genus of pipefishes native to the Indian and Pacific Oceans.
Cosmocampus is a genus of pipefishes.
Micrognathus is a genus of pipefishes, with these currently recognized species:
Syngnathoidea is a superfamily of the pipefish and dragonet order Syngnathiformes. It is divided into two families – the speciose pipefish Syngnathidae, which includes the sea horses and the ghost pipefish, Solenostomidae, which has just five species. The superfamily occurs worldwide in tropical, subtropical and temperate seas, especially in coastal waters around rock and coral reefs and among sea weed and sea grass beds .There are, however, also some pelagic species of pipefish and even freshwater species. In total the superfamily comprises in excess of 50 genera and nearly 300 species.
Phoxocampus belcheri, also known as the rock pipefish, is a species of marine fish belonging to the family Syngnathidae. The species can be found in shallow reefs and tide pools throughout much of the Indo-Pacific ranging from the eastern coast of Africa and the Red Sea to Tonga and Japan. Its diet likely consists of small crustaceans such as copepods. Reproduction occurs through ovoviviparity in which the males brood eggs before giving live birth.
Phoxocampus diacanthus, also known as the obscure pipefish or spined pipefish, is a species of marine fish belonging to the family Sygnathidae. It can be found inhabiting reefs throughout the Indo-Pacific from Japan and Sri Lanka to Samoa and New Caledonia in the south. Its diet likely consists of small crustaceans. Reproduction occurs through ovoviviparity in which the males brood eggs before giving live birth.
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.
