| Banded pipefish | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Gasterosteiformes |
| Family: | Syngnathidae |
| Genus: | Doryrhamphus |
| Species: | D. dactyliophorus |
| Binomial name | |
| Doryrhamphus dactyliophorus (Bleeker, 1853) |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus |
|
The banded pipefish or ringed pipefish (Doryrhamphus dactyliophorus) is a species of fish in the Syngnathidae (seahorses and pipefish) family.[1] It inhabits tide pools, lagoons, and outer reef slopes in tropical climates.[2] Its range includes Australia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Indonesia, Japan, Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Northern Mariana Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, South Africa, and Taiwan.[3]
The banded pipefish has a straight, elongated body which reaches a maximum length of 19 cm (7.4 in).[2] It has fleshy streams coming back from its head, trailing sometimes metres behind the fish itself. These trails are thought to be mechanisms of camouflage for the pipefish whilst hiding in reeds.[4]
Similar to other seahorses and pipefish, the male banded pipefish is equipped with a specialised brood pouch, rather than the female.[5] The female will deposit her eggs in the male's pouch, where they will be developed. The male will later give birth.[6]