Robust ghost pipefish

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Robust ghost pipefish
Solenostomus cyanopterus.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Syngnathiformes
Family: Solenostomidae
Genus: Solenostomus
Species:
S. cyanopterus
Binomial name
Solenostomus cyanopterus
Bleeker, 1854
Synonyms
  • Solenostomus bleekerii Duméril, 1870
  • Solenostomatichthys bleekeri(Duméril, 1870)
  • Solenichthys raceki Whitley, 1955

The robust ghost pipefish (Solenostomus cyanopterus), also known as the blue-finned ghost pipefish, Racek's ghost pipefish, robust-snouted ghost pipefish, or the squaretail ghost-pipefish, [2] is a species of false pipefish belonging to the family Solenostomidae. Its appearance can vary greatly due to its ability to change colors over several hours, but the general body shape and fin shapes allow it to mimic a piece of seagrass.

Contents

Due to a wide range and adaptability to habitat, the robust ghost pipefish is considered a species of least concern by the IUCN. Its natural camouflage abilities allow it to evade predators while seeking out its own prey, which includes bottom-dwelling crustaceans and plankton. It has no teeth, nor proper scales, but scattered osseous plates offer a form of protection.

It has a short lifespan and can only reproduce once. Larvae are planktonic, but are relatively well-developed; the mother releases them into the water column from her brood-pouch, which is a sexually-dimorphic feature formed from her two pelvic fins.

Taxonomy

The robust ghost pipefish was originally described by Dutch ichthyologist Pieter Bleeker in 1854. It also momentarily went by Solenostomus bleekerii, given by French zoologist André Marie Constant Duméril to honor Bleeker in 1870, but this name has since been synonymized. The name Solenichthys raceki was also in consideration, given by Australian ichthyologist Gilbert Percy Whitley in 1955. [3]

The family to which the robust ghost pipefish belongs, Solenostomidae, is related to the family of true pipefishes and seahorses, Syngnathidae, and they share the order Syngnathiformes. [4] Similarities can be seen in the elongated snouts, but there are various differences between families. These include females caring for the eggs in Solenostomidae, versus males in Syngnathidae, and a spiny dorsal fin versus the absence of spines. [5]

There is the distinct possibility that Solenostomus cyanopterus may be a cryptic species - that is, several species currently considered synonymous due to significant overlap in various areas. Its wide range, variable appearance, and somewhat-understudied nature all contribute to this possibility. [6] [7]

Solenostomidae itself is a monotypic taxon, home only to the genus Solenostomus . [8]

Etymology

The genus name "solenostomus" comes from Greek; "solen" means "tube", and "stoma" means "mouth" or "opening". [9] The word "cyanopterus" is also from Greek, and is from "cyanos", meaning "blue", and "pteron", meaning "wing". This is in reference to the dark-blue spots frequently present on the first few spiny rays of the dorsal fin. [2] [6]

The common name "ghost pipefish" originates in the camouflage abilities of the genus. [10] "Robust" specifically refers to the largest species.

Description

Solenostomus cyanopterus at Sharm el Sheik Solenostomidae - Solenostomus cyanopterus.jpg
Solenostomus cyanopterus at Sharm el Sheik

The robust ghost pipefish can reach a length of 17 cm (6.7 in) in total length (TL), [9] which makes it the largest of the ghost pipefishes. [11] It has a long snout, with the mouth positioned at the end, and the jaws are largely toothless. Its tail is also long in comparison to its body. [12] The caudal fin may be truncated, rounded, or lanceolate, and the caudal peduncle is quite short, sometimes absent. [9] Its appearance, with a long slender snout and large fins, helps it mimic a piece of drifting seagrass. [11]

The body may be gray, brown, pink, yellow, or bright green, with small black and white dots, and the robust ghost pipefish is capable of gradual color changes depending upon its environment (taking 24 to 36 hours). [1] [13] There are several dark-blue spots on the first few spiny rays of the dorsal fin that may appear black in preserved specimens. [2] [12] It is largely scaleless, but there are 25–35 stellate (star-shaped) bony plates on the skin. [6] The lateral line is not visible. [3]

Sexual dimorphism

Sexual dimorphism in the robust ghost pipefish manifests in multiple ways. In males, the pelvic fins remain unchanged, but in females, they merge to form a brood pouch. [9] In addition, females are the larger of the two sexes. [2] The olfactory organ is a smooth pit in females, but is equipped with radiating folds (called lamellae) in the males. [12]

Distribution and habitat

Solenostomus cyanopterus SI2.jpg
Solenostomus cyanopterus X-ray.jpg
Solenostomus cyanopterus, conventional and X-ray images

This species lives in the Red Sea and in the tropical Indo-Pacific, from the coast of East Africa to Fiji, southern Japan, and Australia. [9] Its wide range increases its general chances for survival as a species, and it can adapt to a variety of habitats therein. While the larvae and young are largely pelagic, adults can be found on coastal reefs and weedy areas, at depths of 2–25 m (6 ft 7 in – 82 ft 0 in). Their preferred substrates include coral, vegetation, and sand. [1]

Presence in aquaria

The robust ghost pipefish is possibly taken from the wild for the aquarium trade, but not at such a rate that its population numbers are suffering. [1] Hobbyists, while aware of the fish, advise that it is best left to public aquariums to keep captive specimens. [14] There is at least one record of another species of ghost pipefish reproducing in captivity, [10] but records for Solenostomus cyanopterus specifically are sparse.

Ecology and behavior

The robust ghost pipefish is a slow-moving and placid species. [1] When disturbed, it will often move into nearby shelter, such as seagrass for camouflage or coral for protection. [11] The lifespan is relatively short, consisting of a single reproductive period before death. [6]

Diet and feeding

Robust ghost pipefish are bottom-feeders, swimming snout-down near the substrate to capture any benthic invertebrates they come across. [7] Because they are slow-moving, they largely rely on their own camouflage to employ ambush hunting. [1] Their tube-shaped snouts have no teeth, so they simply suck up their prey whole. [7]

Reproduction

Unlike any other fishes in the order Syngnathiformes, female members of Solenostomus take care of the eggs (rather than the male). The two pelvic fins unite to form a brood-pouch in which the eggs are protected. [15] Each fish reproduces only once during its life cycle, and members of the species form pairs for life. [6]

Egg envelopes are attached to small extensions of the skin only present in female specimens, where they can safely incubate inside the brood-pouch. [4] When the eggs are ready to hatch, the female releases them into the water column, where the larvae drift with the currents. [7] The larvae are well-developed, approximately 3 mm long, with fully-formed eyes, mouths, and spines. [2]

Conservation status

The robust ghost pipefish is a species of least concern for the IUCN. It has a wide range, well-adapted camouflage abilities, and can withstand a variety of habitat conditions; all of these support a high survivability rate for the species. [1] It is of little interest to the ornamental fish industry due to its short lifespan and failure to thrive in captivity, so it is not at risk for over-collection. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seahorse</span> Genus of fishes

A seahorse is any of 46 species of small marine fish in the genus Hippocampus. "Hippocampus" comes from the Ancient Greek hippókampos (ἱππόκαμπος), itself from híppos (ἵππος) meaning "horse" and kámpos (κάμπος) meaning "sea monster" or "sea animal". Having a head and neck suggestive of a horse, seahorses also feature segmented bony armour, an upright posture and a curled prehensile tail. Along with the pipefishes and seadragons they form the family Syngnathidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syngnathidae</span> Family of fishes

The Syngnathidae is a family of fish which includes seahorses, pipefishes, and seadragons. The name is derived from Ancient Greek: σύν, meaning "together", and γνάθος, meaning "jaw". The fused jaw is one of the traits that the entire family have in common.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pipefish</span> Subfamily of fishes

Pipefishes or pipe-fishes (Syngnathinae) are a subfamily of small fishes, which, together with the seahorses and seadragons, form the family Syngnathidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Syngnathiformes</span> Order of fishes

The Syngnathiformes are an order of ray-finned fishes that includes the sea moths, trumpetfishes and seahorses.

<i>Solenostomus</i> Genus of fishes

Solenostomus, also known as the 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. Ghost pipefishes are related to pipefishes and seahorses. They are found in tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Black-striped pipefish</span> Species of fish

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.

<i>Solenostomus paradoxus</i> Species of fish

The ornate ghost pipefish or harlequin ghost pipefish, Solenostomus paradoxus, is a false pipefish of the family Solenostomidae. The species' name comes from the Greek paradoxos, referring to this fish's unusual external features. Ornate ghost pipefish are found in the Western Pacific and the Indian Ocean along reef edges prone to strong currents from the Red Sea to Tonga. They reach a maximum length of 12 cm. They vary in color from red or yellow to black and are almost transparent. Although relatively common, ornate ghost pipefish are very well-camouflaged and difficult to find. It occurs either as solitary individuals or in pairs, among the branches of gorgonians, in floating weeds, or crinoids where the feed on mysids and small benthic shrimp.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Broadnosed pipefish</span> Species of fish

The broadnosed pipefish or deepnosed pipefish is a fish of the family Syngnathidae. It is native to the Eastern Atlantic from Vardø in Norway, Baltic Sea and the British Isles at north to Morocco at south. It is also found in the Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea and Sea of Azov. It is common in the coastal shallow waters, usually on reefs with seagrasses. This species is notable for its "broad" snout, which is as deep as its body.

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gulf pipefish</span> Species of fish

The Gulf pipefish is a species of pipefish in the member of the taxonomic family Sygnathidae. Syngnathus scovelli is native to the region of south Florida, United States, the Atlantic Ocean, etc. S. scovelli is similar to the species Opossum pipefish also known by its scientific name as Microphisbrachyurus.

The Yucatán pipefish is a demersal fish species native to the Gulf of Mexico.

<i>Acentronura</i> Genus of fishes

Acentronura is a genus of pygmy pipehorse native to the Indian and Pacific oceans. The name is derived from the Greek ακεντρονουρα, or a-kentron-oura, and refers to the lack of a sting on the tail.

The long-tailed ghost pipefish or armored ghost pipefish is a ghost pipefish in the family Solenostomidae. The species name comes from the Greek armatura, referring to this fish's armor of dermal plates. Solenostomus leptosoma is now considered a synonym of S. armatus, the valid species identification.

<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).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halimeda ghost pipefish</span> Species of fish

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

<i>Syngnathus temminckii</i> Species of fish

Syngnathus temminckii is the most common pipefish in southern African estuaries, ranging from Walvis Bay (Namibia) to the Tugela River on the east coast of South Africa.

Gray's pipefish, also known as the mud pipefish or spiny pipefish is a species of marine fish of the family Syngnathidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific in the Gulf of Aden, Sri Lanka, and from the Gulf of Thailand to Japan, the Marshall Islands, and the Great Barrier Reef. It lives to depth of 100 metres (330 ft), and planktonic juveniles have been found above depths of 3,000 metres (1.9 mi). It occurs in muddy habitats, in estuaries, and on coral reefs, where it likely feeds on small crustaceans. It can grow to lengths of 20 centimetres (7.9 in). This species is ovoviviparous, with males carrying eggs in a brood pouch before giving birth to live young.

<i>Solenostomus leptosoma</i> Species of fish

Solenostomus leptosoma, the delicate ghost pipefish is a species of false pipefish from the family Solenostomidae. It is an Indo-Pacific species which occurs from the Mascarene Islands east to Japan, Indonesia and Australia. It is mainly found along the edge of reefs where the reef borders on bordering on open sand substrates. They are mainly pelagic in their early life stages until they mature and settle on the substrate to breed. The females carry the eggs in a brood pouch formed by their modified pelvic fins.

<i>Histiogamphelus briggsii</i> Species of fish

Histiogamphelus briggsii, also known as Brigg's pipefish, is a species of marine fish in the family Sygnathidae. It can be found in the shallow waters surrounding South Australia, New South Wales, and Northern Tasmania. Its habitat can consist of reefs, seagrass beds, and sandy beach and estuarine environments Individuals of this species can grow to lengths of 25 cm (9.8 in). They are an ovoviviparous species, in which males brood eggs and give birth to live young.

<i>Urocampus nanus</i> Species of fish

Urocampus nanus, commonly known as the barbed pipefish, is a species of marine fish belonging to the family Syngnathidae. This family consists of 56 different genera and 320 species.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Dick, K. & Pollom, R. (2017) [errata version of 2016 assessment]. "Solenostomus cyanopterus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2016: e.T65363316A115407689. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T65363316A67621178.en .
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 Bray, D.J.; Thompson, V.J. (2021). "Robust Ghostpipefish, Solenostomus cyanopterus Bleeker 1855". Fishes of Australia. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Solenostomus cyanopterus". Global Biodiversity Information Facility . Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  4. 1 2 Wetzel, James; Wourms, John P. (December 1995). "Adaptations for reproduction and development in the skin-brooding ghost pipefishes,Solenostomus". Environmental Biology of Fishes. 44 (4): 363–384. doi:10.1007/BF00008252. ISSN   0378-1909. S2CID   29144170.
  5. ↑ Yim, Hu-Soon; Park, Jeong-Ho; Han, Kyeong-Ho (31 December 2007). "First Record of Ghost Pipefish, Solenostomus cyanopterus (Solenostomidae: Gasterosteiformes) from Korea". The Ichthyological Society of Korea. 19 (4): 360–364.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Mazza, Giuseppe (15 May 2022). "Solenostomus cyanopterus". Monaco Nature Encyclopedia. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Solenostomus cyanopterus Bleeker, 1854". Atlas of Living Australia. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  8. ↑ Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2023). "Solenostomidae" in FishBase . March 2023 version.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2018). "Solenostomus cyanopterus" in FishBase . February 2018 version.
  10. 1 2 Ricciardi, Francesco (August 2014). "The Cryptic Life of Ghost Pipefishes". Tropical Fish Hobbyist Magazone. pp. 76–80. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  11. 1 2 3 McGrouther, Mark (22 January 2019). "Robust Ghostpipefish, Solenostomus cyanopterus Bleeker,1855". Australian Museum. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 Weber, Max; de Beaufort, L. F. (1922). "Heteromi, Solenichthyes, Synentognathi, Percesoces, Labyrinthici, Microcyprini". The fishes of the Indo-Australian Archipelago (4 ed.). Leiden: E.J. Brill, Ltd. pp. 24–27. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.12497. LCCN   30007996. OCLC   1572939.
  13. ↑ Gerlach, Oliver (2009). "Colour change in the ghost pipefish Solenostomus cyanopterus" (PDF). Phelsuma. 17: 59–60.
  14. ↑ Goemans, Bob (2012). "Solenostomus cyanopterus Bleeker, 1854 - Robust Ghost Pipefish". Saltcorner. Retrieved 3 March 2023.
  15. ↑ Orr, James Wilder; Fritzsche, Ronald A. (1993-02-11). "Revision of the Ghost Pipefishes, Family Solenostomidae (Teleostei: Syngnathoidei)". Copeia. 1993 (1): 168. doi:10.2307/1446307. JSTOR   1446307.
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