Halimeda Ghost Pipefish (reddish brown)

Q: Where can you find Halimeda Ghost Pipefish (reddish brown)?

Halimeda Ghost Pipefish (reddish brown) can be found in: Laccadive Islands, Mariana Islands, Australia West, Malaysia East, Marshall Islands, Australia, India, India West, Indo-Pacific West, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Indo-Pacific, Papua New Guinea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Chagos Islands, Philippines, Micronesia.

Solenostomus halimeda

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23 m

Solenostomus halimeda is a species of false pipefishes belonging to the family Solenostomidae.

Description

Solenostomus halimeda can reach a length of 6.5 cm (2.6 in), and is the smallest of the ghost pipefishes. Its body is most often green, but can be red or any other color of the algae or coral in which it is hiding. This cryptic species looks very similar to the macroalga Halimeda. This uncommon species is related to pipefishes and seahorses. It can be distinguished by its large head that is about the same length as the rest of its body. The caudal fin is small and similar in form and size to the dorsal and pectoral fins.

Distribution

This species lives in the Indian Ocean and in the Western Indo-Pacific, from the Maledives to the Marshall Islands.

Habitat

The Halimeda ghost pipefish is reef-associated and lives at depths up to 23 m (75 ft).

Behavior

These fish float nearly motionless, with their mouths facing downwards, around a background that makes them nearly impossible to see. They feed on tiny crustaceans, sucked inside through their long snouts. Unlike true pipefish, female Halimeda ghost pipefish carry their fertilised eggs between their pelvic fins, which are modified to form a brood pouch, until the eggs are ready to hatch.

About Solenostomidae

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 Indian Ocean, from Asia to Africa.

The animals, none of which are longer than 15 centimetres (5.9 in), float near motionlessly, with the mouth facing downwards, around a background that makes them nearly impossible to see. They feed on tiny crustaceans, sucked inside through their long snout. They live in open waters except during breeding, when they find a coral reef or muddy bottom, changing color and shape to minimize visibility.

In many respects, they are similar to the pipefishes, but can be distinguished by the presence of pelvic fins, a prominent, spiny, dorsal fin, and star-shaped plates on the skin. Unlike true pipefish, female ghostpipefishes use their enlarged pelvic fins to brood their eggs until they hatch.

Species

Solenostomus armatus M. C. W. Weber, 1913 (long-tailed ghost pipefish or armored pipefish)
Solenostomus cyanopterus Bleeker, 1854 (robust ghost pipefish)
Solenostomus halimeda J. W. Orr, Fritzsche & J. E. Randall, 2002 (Halimeda ghost pipefish)
Solenostomus leptosoma S. Tanaka (I), 1908 (delicate ghost pipefish)
Solenostomus paegnius Jordan & Thompson, 1914 (roughsnout ghost pipefish)
Solenostomus paradoxus (Pallas, 1770) (ornate ghost pipefish or harlequin ghost pipefish)