Halicampus mataafae
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Samoan pipefish | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Syngnathiformes |
| Family: | Syngnathidae |
| Genus: | Halicampus |
| Species: | H. mataafae |
| Binomial name | |
| Halicampus mataafae | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
|
Corythoichthys mataafae Jordan & Seale, 1906 | |
The Samoan pipefish, or brown pipefish (Halicampus mataafae), is a species of marine fish of the family Syngnathidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea, to Sodwana Bay, to Taiwan, the Marshall Islands, and Samoa, where it inhabits tidepools and coral and rocky reefs to depths of 15 metres (49 ft).[1][3] It is a solitary species with cryptic habits and is rarely observed.[2] It is likely to feed on small crustaceans, and can grow to lengths of 14 centimetres (5.5 in). This species is ovoviviparous, with males carrying the fertilised eggs in a brood pouch, the folds of which fall well short of the centre of the egg-filled pouch,[4] eventually giving birth to live young.[1][3]
The specific name honours Mataafa, a former king of Samoa.[5] It is a listed marine species under the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.[4]
