Duncker's pipehorse (Solegnathus dunckeri)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from FishBase, occurrence map from GBIF, conservation from IUCN Red List, description from Wikipedia.
Duncker's pipehorse (Solegnathus dunckeri), also known as the nose-ridge pipefish, red-and-gold pipehorse, red-hair pipefish or spiny sea dragon, is a species of fish in the family Syngnathidae. It is endemic to eastern Australia and Lord Howe Island. It is a pelagic species which is found in the waters of the continental shelf and the continental slope. Fishermen within its range report that it is caught where there are hard substrates such as hard sand, shale, sandstone or gravel and they are often caught alongside gorgonians, black corals, algae or sponges. It is an ovoviviparous species in which the male bears the fertilised eggs in a brood pouch located under his tail. It is a carnivorous species which feeds on small planktonic crustacean.
- Scientific name
- Solegnathus dunckeri
- Authority
- Whitley, 1927
- Family
- Syngnathidae
- Order
- Syngnathiformes
- Habitat zone
- demersal
- Iucn red list
- Data Deficient
- Gbif occurrence records
- 103
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Syngnathiformes · Family: Syngnathidae · Genus: Solegnathus.
Accepted name: Solegnathus dunckeri · Authority: Whitley, 1927 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 278075.
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=278075 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Biology and life history (FishBase)
Measured values published by FishBase for Solegnathus dunckeri. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Habitat zone: demersal · Body shape: eel-like · Vulnerability index: 31.3 of 100 · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.
FishBase notes: Occurs in the continental shelf (Ref. 205, 75154) and continental slope (Ref. 75154). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205).
Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 26104) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Solegnathus-dunckeri.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
103 georeferenced occurrence records for Solegnathus dunckeri are published through GBIF from 1 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 17 distinct locations from a sample of 103 records, omitting 11 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: Australia (103).
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2332688) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2332688&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=278075 (CC BY 4.0); Natural Earth 110m basemap — https://www.naturalearthdata.com/ (public domain). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Conservation status (IUCN Red List)
The IUCN Red List assesses Solegnathus dunckeri Whitley, 1927 as Data Deficient (code DD). No trend, population estimate or threat analysis is given here, because none is available from this source without the Red List API; follow the source link for the full assessment, including its date.
Source: IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (taxon 20314) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/20314/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2332688) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2332688/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
Its body has a variable colour, from creamy through to brown or even black with pinkish-orange and dark markings along the superior ridges on its back and 10-11 irregularly shaped, indistinct, pale pinkish or dark bands on back and sides and there are also dark markings along the underside of the tail; and ghosts of dark barring on the ventral surface of its trunk rings. In darker individuals the tip of the snout is often pale. The head and body is covered in spines except around the gills, the fin bases and the vent.
It was named in honour of Georg Duncker a German ichthyologist, who had a particular interest in pipefish.
It is classified as Data Deficient by the IUCN and is a listed marine species under the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
Source: Wikipedia: Duncker's pipehorse — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duncker%27s_pipehorse (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
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