Acentronura breviperula
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from FishBase, occurrence map from GBIF, description from Wikipedia.
Last updated
Steve Childs · via Wikipedia: Acentronura breviperula · CC BY 2.0
Acentronura breviperula, also known as the shortpouch pygmy pipehorse, dwarf pipehorse and northern little pipehorse, is a species of pygmy pipehorse, a member of the family Syngnathidae, the seahorses and pipefishes. It occurs in the Indo-Pacific region from the eastern Andaman Sea, through the Malay Archipelago to the Western Pacific as far east as New Guinea and the northern Great Barrier Reef.
Scientific classification
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassActinopterygii
- DivisionTeleostei
- OrderSyngnathiformes
- FamilySyngnathidae
- GenusAcentronura
- SpeciesAcentronura breviperula
Named by Fraser-Brunner & Whitley, 1949
Sources: Wikipedia taxobox: Acentronura breviperula (CC BY-SA 4.0) · order, family and genus agree with WoRMS AphiaID 309247 (CC BY 4.0)
How big is it?
Largest length in the source, 0.05 m, next to a 1.8 m person.
Diagram: drawn by Codexery, schematic shapes to scale (not a likeness). Length: FishBase species summary
Where the acentronura breviperula has been recorded
Each dot is a place where the species has been observed and reported (220 records, half-degree grid) — not a modelled range. 13 inland records left out (institution coordinates).
Map: drawn by Codexery. Data: GBIF occurrence search (records CC0 / CC BY) · Natural Earth basemap (public domain) · place coordinates: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Syngnathiformes · Family: Syngnathidae · Genus: Acentronura.
Accepted name: Acentronura breviperula · Authority: Fraser-Brunner & Whitley, 1949 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 309247.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=309247 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Biology and life history (FishBase)
Measured values published by FishBase for Acentronura breviperula. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 5 cm · Depth range: 1–47 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: elongated · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.
FishBase notes: Typically seen attached by tail to debris or algae (Ref. 90102). Usually found in pairs (Ref. 48635).
Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 66887) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Acentronura-breviperula.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
220 georeferenced occurrence records for Acentronura breviperula are published through GBIF from 11 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 33 distinct locations from a sample of 220 records, omitting 13 inland records that carry an institution's coordinates rather than a collection site; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.
Most records by country or area: New Caledonia (99); Indonesia (70); Philippines (28); Timor-Leste (7); Papua New Guinea (6); Israel (3); Australia (2); Thailand (2); India (1); Japan (1); Malaysia (1).
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2332980) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2332980&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=309247 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
It is a small, drab-coloured pipehorse which is very well camouflaged among sandy and silty habitats, although it is usually found on substrates of coral rubble or in areas of sparse algal growth. It has a prehensile tail similar to that of a seahorse but it lacks an angled head and swims with its body held in a horizontal position. It is normally recorded in pairs and they typically use their prehensile tails to grip onto pieces of algae or debris. It is a carnivorous species which feeds on small invertebrates.
Like other syngnathids it is ovoviviparous and the males hold the developing eggs in a brood pouch located on the underside of its body. It is found at depths from 2-40 m. They are sexually dimorphic, the females resemble pipefish but the males have large bellies and bear more resemblance to sea horses. They grow to a maximum length of 6 cm.
A breviperula was previously thought to be a synonym of Acentronura tentaculata but is now considered to be a valid species with A. tenticulata restricted to the Red Sea. In Australia A. berviperula is a listed Marine Species under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Source: Wikipedia: Acentronura breviperula — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acentronura_breviperula (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-25.
Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Acentronura breviperula (CC BY-SA 4.0).
- Classification: the source article's taxobox; order, family and genus checked against WoRMS, the World Register of Marine Species (CC BY 4.0).
- Occurrence records: GBIF (CC0 / CC BY). Basemap: Natural Earth (public domain).
- Biology values: FishBase species summary (CC BY-NC 3.0, non-commercial).
- Word definitions: the , each quoted from its Wikipedia article.
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