Some specimens described as reddish in life. Attains 8
cm. Infrequently taken in shore collections, reportedly
once dredged in 80.5 m. One specimen from Inhambane,
Mozambique; also known from Mekran coast, Maldive Ids.
and Sulu Archipelago to Hawaii. (See illustration on p.
450.)
Genus Halicampus Kaup, 1856
About 13 species; 3 in our area.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Trunk rings 14; median dorsal snout ridge continuous ............... 2
Ib Trunk rings 15; median dorsal snout ridge
discontinuous, with 2-3 semi-isolated spine-like
elevations .......................................................... H. mataafae
2a Median dorsal snout ridge essentially linear;
Drays 22-23 ..................................................... H. zavorensis
2b Median dorsal snout ridge arcuate; Drays 16-20 ........ H. dunckeri
145.10 Halicampus dunckeri
(Chabanaud, 1929)
Dusky pipefish
Donker pypvis
Micrognathus Dunckeri Chabanaud, 1929: 170, Figs. 2 & 3 (Amboina).
Rings 14+(33-39); D 16-20; P 11-13; A 3; subdorsal rings (1.25-0.0)+
(2.75-5.0) = 3.75-5.25.
Brownish to near black, tip of snout usually pale, often
with irregular pale bars on dorsum of body. A slender
species which attains at least 15 em. One specimen taken in
Sodwana Bay; Red Sea to Japan and Fiji Ids. (See illustration on p. 450.)
145.11 Halicampus mataafae
(Jordan & Seale, 1906)
Brown pipefish
Bruin pypvis
Corythroichthys mataafae Jordan & Seale, 1906: 213, Fig. 19 (Samoa).
Micrognathus mataafae: Smith, 1963: 534'.
Rings 15+(33-36); D 21-26; P 12-13; A 3; subdorsal rings (1.25-0.5)
+(4.0-5.0) = 4.75-5.75.
Mainly brownish, sometimes with irregular diffuse pale
bars on dorsum. Attains at least 13 cm. One specimen taken
in Sodwana Bay at a depth of 10 - 12 m; northern Mozambique to Red Sea, east to Samoa. (See illustration on p.
450.)
145.12 Halicampus zavorensis
Dawson, 1984
Zavora pipefish
Zavora-pypvis
Halicampus zavorensis Dawson, 1984: 2, Figs. 1,2 (Zavora, Mozambique).
145: SYNGNATHIDAE (SEAHORSES & PIPEFISHES)
Rings 14+(36-37); D 22-23; P 13; A 3-4; subdorsal rings (1.0-0.75)
+(4.0-4.25) = 5.0-5.25.
Side and dorsum of body with ca. 15 diffuse dark brown
bars (0.5-1.0 ring wide) separated by 2-3 ring pale or mottled interspaces; venter of trunk with a light brown bar on
each ring. Attains at least 10 cm. One specimen from
Zavora, Mozambique; 2 others from Siir, Gulf of Oman.
(See illustration on p. 450.)
145.12 Halicampus zavorensis: 9.5 em SL holotype (S. Mozambique).
Genus Hippichthys Bleeker, 1849
Five species in 2 subgenera, Hippichthys and Parasyngnathus. Three species in our area, all in subgenus Hippichthys.
KEY TO SPECIES
la Trunk rings 12-14; total rings 45-48; D origin
always on trunk ............................................... H. cyanospilos
Ib Trunk rings 14-16; total rings 51-57; D origin
usually on tail ................................................................... 2
2a Scutella without a longitudinal keel; D origin
usually (in 94% examined) on 1st tail ring; HL
averages 10 in SL ............................................. H. heptagon us
2a
2b
2b Scutella usually with a longitudinal keel; D origin
usually (in 98%) on or behind 2nd tail ring; HL
averages 8 in SL .................................................... H. spicifer
451