Haliichthys taeniophorus
| Ribboned Pipefish | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Syngnathiformes |
| Family: | Syngnathidae |
| Subfamily: | Syngnathinae |
| Genus: | Haliichthys J. E. Gray, 1859 |
| Species: | H. taeniophora |
| Binomial name | |
| Haliichthys taeniophora J. E. Gray, 1859 | |
Haliichthys taeniophorus, the ribboned pipefish, ribboned pipehorse or ribboned seadragon, is a species of pipefish found along the coast of northern Australia (Shark Bay to Torres Strait) and New Guinea (both West New Guinea and Papua New Guinea) in habitats ranging from shallow and weedy to deeper and sandy bottoms down to depths of 16.5 m (54 ft).[1] This species grows to a total length of 30 cm (12 in). Their colors can range from greenish yellow to brownish red.[2]
Previously, it was thought that the ribboned pipefish was closely related to other pipefishes called seadragons (leafy seadragons and weedy seadragons) due to their similar fleshy appendages that allow them to camouflage with seaweeds. However, recent molecular phylogenetic analysis has shown that they are in fact not closely related to seadragons, indicating that they have independently evolved camouflage.[3] This species is the only known member of its genus.[4]
References
- 1 2 Pollom, R. (2016). "Haliichthys taeniophorus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2017.1. International Union for Conservation of Nature. Retrieved 9 May 2017.
- ↑ Kuiter, Rudie H. 2000. Seahorses, pipefishes, and the relatives. Chorleywood, UK: TMC Publishing. 240 p
- ↑ Wilson & Rouse. 2010. Convergent camouflage and the non-monophyly of 'seadragons' (Syngnathidae:Teleostei): suggestions for a revised taxonomy of syngnathids. Zoologica Scripta 39:551-558.
- ↑ Froese, Rainer, and Daniel Pauly, eds. (2017). Species of Haliichthys in FishBase. June 2017 version.
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