Teleostei (teleosts) >
Syngnathiformes (Pipefishes and seahorses) >
Solenostomidae (Ghost pipefishes)
Etymology: Solenostomus: Greek, solen = tube + Greek, stoma = mouth (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Weber.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; non-migratory; depth range 0 - 95 m (Ref. 9829). Tropical
Western Pacific: Southeast of Kyushu Islands, Japan to Arafura Sea, Indonesia and Australia; east tio Fiji. Also known from China.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 5.7 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9829)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal spines (total): 5; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20 - 22; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 20 - 22; Vertebrae: 32 - 33. Total number of body plates is 33-35. Color and color patterns highly variable: most specimens in dark-color phase with dark red background overlaid with reticulated yellow to orange blotches; some in light-color phase of yellow to beige with few spots of darker pigment on body. Two large black spots present between first and third dorsal-fin spines (Ref. 9829). Long caudal peduncle and elongated caudal fin (Ref. 48635).
Adults occur over muddy bottom. Females carry the eggs in their pelvic fins that are modified to form a brood pouch (Ref. 205).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Pelvic fins of females are modified as brood pouch for the reception of the eggs (Ref. 205).
Orr, J.W. and R.A. Fritzsche, 1993. Revision of the ghost pipefishes, family Solenostomidae (Teleostei: Syngnathoidei). Copeia 1993(1):168-182. (Ref. 9829)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial
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Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 24.5 - 28.8, mean 27.6 °C (based on 414 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5312 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01000 (0.00244 - 0.04107), b=3.04 (2.81 - 3.27), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.4 ±0.5 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).