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Hippichthys heptagonus Bleeker, 1849 Belly pipefish |
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photo by
FAO |
| Family: | Syngnathidae (Pipefishes and seahorses), subfamily: Syngnathinae | |||
| Max. size: | 15 cm SL (male/unsexed) | |||
| Environment: | demersal; freshwater; brackish | |||
| Distribution: | Africa, Asia and Oceania: South Africa and Kenya to the Solomon Islands and in some Philippine lakes (Ref. 4281, 5316). | |||
| Diagnosis: |
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 22-30. Description: Body: trunk heptagonal; very long tail 4-sided; covered with finely-sculptured plates with fine ridges; knife-like keel on the belly made up of sculptured plates (Ref. 2930). Head conical posteriorly; large elongate snout very narrow with concave plates; operculum with prominent median longitudinal keel; nape with a median crest (Ref. 2930). Dorsal fin only at the first 6 rings of tail; dorsal fin with 23-30 rays; pectoral fin with 13-16 rays; pectoral and caudal fins small (Ref. 2930, 4281). Colouration: Preserved colour dusky greenish gray; underside of head whitish; ventral keel and caudal fin blackish (Ref. 2930). Brownish, often without distinctive markings; venter of trunk commonly dusky, shading to near black on median ridge; some with brownish bars; dorsal fin rays without distinct row of brown spots (Ref. 4281). |
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| Biology: | Common in the lower reaches of rivers and streams, and in estuarine habitats. Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205, 44894). Occurs in mangrove estuaries and tidal creeks (Ref. 44894). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205). Male matures at 7.5-8.0 cm SL. | |||
| IUCN Red List Status: | Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 01 June 2016 Ref. (130435) | |||
| Threat to humans: | harmless | |||
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