Schultz's pipefish

Last updated

Schultz's pipefish
Corythoichthys schultzi.JPG
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Syngnathiformes
Family: Syngnathidae
Genus: Corythoichthys
Species:
C. schultzi
Binomial name
Corythoichthys schultzi
Herald, 1953

Schultz's pipefish, Corythoichthys schultzi, is a pipefish of the family Syngnathidae.

Contents

A pair of Corythoichthys schultzi.

Etymology

The genus name Corythoichthys derives from the Greek words coris meaning "helmet" and ichthus meaning "fish". The specific name schultzi honors Leonard Peter Schultz, an American ichthyologist of the Smithsonian Institution (Washington). [2] [3]

Description

Corythoichthys schultzi at Hurghada, Red Sea Syngnathidae - Corythoichthys schultzi.jpg
Corythoichthys schultzi at Hurghada, Red Sea

Corythoichthys schultzi can reach a length up to 16 centimetres (6.3 in) in males. The body is cylindrical and very elongated. These pipefishes have a cryptic coloration making the difficult to be detected by both prey and predators. The basic color of the body is whitish, with small black, brown and reddish dashes and yellowish rings. The eyes are protruding and the snout is long, slightly compressed and thinner than the body. The caudal fin is present but quite small. Adults may form small aggregation. Ovoviviparous, the male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail. [4] In this pouch they also carry the developing young pipefishes.

Distribution

This species is widespread throughout the Indo-Pacific Oceans, from Red Sea and East Africa to Tonga, throughout Micronesia, northern Australia and New Caledonia. [4]

Habitat

Schultz's pipefish is a benthic species associated with coral reefs. It usually can be found in lagoon and seaward reefs at depths between 2 and 30 metres (6.6 and 98.4 ft). The adults live in pairs or small groups when out in the open and find a safe places to spend the night. [4]

References

  1. Gillespie, K. & Pollom, R. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Corythoichthys schultzi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016 e.T65365100A115416540. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T65365100A67619425.en .
  2. Thompson, Vanessa J.; Dianne J. Bray. "Corythoichthys schultzi". Fishes of Australia. Museums Victoria. Retrieved 27 May 2018.
  3. 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.
  4. 1 2 3 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Corythoichthys schultzi". FishBase . February 2018 version.

Bibliography