Ornate pipefish (Halicampus macrorhynchus)

Classification (WoRMS)

Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Syngnathiformes · Family: Syngnathidae · Genus: Halicampus.

Accepted name: Halicampus macrorhynchus · Authority: Bamber, 1915 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 218011.

Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Phanerotokeus gohari Duncker, 1940.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218011 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

Measured values published by FishBase for Halicampus macrorhynchus. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.

Maximum length: 18 cm · Depth range: 3–25 m · Habitat zone: reef-associated · Body shape: eel-like · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100.

FishBase notes: Adults inhabit reef flats where it is found in seagrass areas, among coral rubble and algae-covered rocks. Juveniles occur with round-leafed seagrasses on sand slopes, usually settling from pelagic state at about 8 cm long. Adults on sand or algae covered reefs to about 25 m depth (Ref. 48635). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205). Solitary or in pairs (Ref 90102).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 10225) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Halicampus-macrorhynchus.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

113 georeferenced occurrence records for Halicampus macrorhynchus are published through GBIF from 18 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 46 distinct locations from a sample of 113 records, omitting 8 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: Indonesia (35); Philippines (32); Malaysia (7); Australia (6); Fiji (6); Jordan (5); Timor-Leste (4); Japan (3); Solomon Islands (3); Singapore (3); Papua New Guinea (2); Comoros (1); New Caledonia (1); Saudi Arabia (1); Thailand (1).

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2332845) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2332845&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218011 (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 Halicampus macrorhynchus Bamber, 1915 as Least Concern (code LC). 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 65367594) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/65367594/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2332845) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2332845/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

The ornate pipefish is a small sized fish that can reach a maximum length of 18 cm.

It has a thin and elongate body with reduced fins which are difficult to observe.

Its body color varies with its environment to match it and improve its camouflage.

It ranges from reddish to brownish through greenish and yellowish.

The backside of its body has some small skin growths, forming pairs of fins like, generally eight in number and has also small irregular whitish, pinkish spots.

The head is small and does not really stand out from the rest of the body, it has a long snout which extremity can be covered with skin growths.

The ornate pipefish is widespread throughout the tropical and subtropical waters of the Indo-West Pacific from the eastern coast of Africa, Red Sea included, until Salomon Islands and from South Japan to the Queensland's area in Australia.

The ornate pipefish is found close to the bottom between the surface and 25 meters deep.

It prefers areas such as reef, sandy bottom or coral rubble with algae or debris in which it can easily hide.

Like many of their congeners belonging to the family of Pipefishes, the ornate pipefish has a benthic lifestyle and is ovoviviparous.

Its reproduction occurs during a courtship where the female will transfer her eggs in the ventral surface of the male between skin folds forming a kind of protective pouch in which he will fertilize them and protect them during the incubation period.

The ornate pipefish is a carnivore. Its diet is based on small crustaceans and other invertebrates which it aspires through its tubular snout.

Source: Wikipedia: Halicampus macrorhynchus — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halicampus_macrorhynchus (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.