Longtail Seamoth

Pegasus volitans is a species of fish in the family Pegasidae.This fish is used in Chinese medicine and in the aquarium trade.

Description

Body is light brown or olive to dark brown-black dorsally and laterally, lighter ventrally. Tubercles is absent on surface of carapace; no scales on orbit; distal margin of dorsal and anal fins perpendicular to horizontal axis of body. 4 pairs of dorsolateral body plates; 5 pairs of ventrolateral body plates; tail rings 12, anteriormost 9 mobile, last 3 fused; a lateral pair of posteriorly directed spines on terminal tail rings; suborbital shelf convex obscuring eye from ventral view; deep pits absent. Rostrum monomorphic and spatulate. Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 5; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 5; Vertebrae: 21.

Distribution

It is found in Australia, Bahrain, China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mozambique, Myanmar, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Taiwan, Tanzania, and Thailand.

Habitat

It is found on muddy and sandy bottoms of estuaries and bays. Known to 'walk' over the bottom using its tentacular pelvic fins. Juveniles expatriate to tropical regions; adults mainly found in muddy estuaries where they pair. Sometimes it is seen partly buried but also feed during the day. It feeds on small benthic organisms. Sometimes it is found floating on the surface. Sometimes occurs in seagrass areas.