Family: Solenostomidae - Ghostpipefish
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Ghostpipefish head is less angled
than their cousin the Seahorse.
Closely related to the family Syngnathidae - Seahorses and Pipefish and from the same order they share the long tube like snout.
Egg mass safely inside the Females pouch.
Their head is at less of an angle than that of their seahorse cousin and unlike Syngnathidae the female becomes pregnant and cares for the eggs in her pelvic fins that are modified to form a brood pouch.
All Ghostpipefish have two dorsal fins whereas Syngnathisae have one. Feeding mainly on crustaceans and small fish they live in tropical, subtropical and warm temperate waters from Indian to Western Pacific Oceans.
They can be found in shallow areas or close to coastal reefs, usually seen in pairs near gorgonians, corals, crinoids, hydroids, algae substrata and seagrass beds.
Their cryptic behaviour makes finding them a challenge even if you know where to look.
Solenostomus paradoxus - Ornate or Harlequin Ghostpipefish
Ornate Ghostpipefish.
Easily identified and arguably the most elaborate of Syngnathiformes, a highly prized discovery among divers and underwater photographers.
The fins of the Ornate Ghostpipefish are well developed, large and as the name suggests ornately decorated.
Their colouration is variable and the female has much larger ventral fins to store her eggs. Males are generally smaller in size than females, who grow to approximately 10cm in length. If undisturbed they will remain in the same host fauna for many weeks.
Solenostomus cyanopterus - Robust Ghostpipefish
Robust Ghostpipefish
Simulating rotting sea grass, the Robust Ghostpipefish is a rare find due to its cryptic appearance.
Generally inhabiting the substrate of sheltered bays or lagoons although we saw one individual on Barracuda Point at Sipadan!
Unlike the Ornate Ghostpipefish they are fairly mobile and revisiting them is not usually possible. They grow to approx 15cm in size and in this case variations of green and brown in colour.
CLICK HERE FOR GHOSTPIPEFISH FIELD GUIDE