Blue-spotted pipefish (Hippichthys cyanospilos)
Source-cited species reference: taxonomy from WoRMS, biology from FishBase, occurrence map from GBIF, conservation from IUCN Red List, description from Wikipedia.
Hippichthys cyanospilos, commonly known as the blue spotted pipefish or bluespeckled pipefish, is a marine fish belonging to the family Syngnathidae, native from the Indo-Pacific area.
- Scientific name
- Hippichthys cyanospilos
- Authority
- (Bleeker, 1854)
- Family
- Syngnathidae
- Order
- Syngnathiformes
- Maximum length
- 16 cm
- Habitat zone
- demersal
- Iucn red list
- Least Concern
- Gbif occurrence records
- 166
Classification (WoRMS)
Full classification as recorded by WoRMS: Kingdom: Animalia · Phylum: Chordata · Class: Teleostei · Order: Syngnathiformes · Family: Syngnathidae · Genus: Hippichthys.
Accepted name: Hippichthys cyanospilos · Authority: (Bleeker, 1854) · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 218017.
Synonyms and superseded combinations recorded for this taxon: Doryichthys spaniaspis Jordan & Seale, 1907; Hippichthys cyanospilus (Bleeker, 1854); Hippicthys cyanospilus (Bleeker, 1854); Parasyngnathus wardi Whitley, 1948; Syngnathus cyanospilos Bleeker, 1854; Syngnathus cyanospilus Bleeker, 1854; Syngnathus kuhlii Kaup, 1856; Syngnathus mossambicus Peters, 1855; Syngnathus wardi (Whitley, 1948).
Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218017 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Biology and life history (FishBase)
Measured values published by FishBase for Hippichthys cyanospilos. Only fields the database actually holds for this species are shown; these are database values, not aquarium guidance.
Maximum length: 16 cm · Habitat zone: demersal · Body shape: eel-like · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Fishery importance: of no interest.
FishBase notes: Adults occur in estuaries, lower reaches of coastal rivers and streams (Ref. 4127) and mangroves (Ref. 48635). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205). Males may be brooding at 6.5-7.5 SL.
Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 7728) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Hippichthys-cyanospilos.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.
Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)
166 georeferenced occurrence records for Hippichthys cyanospilos are published through GBIF from 22 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 47 distinct locations from a sample of 166 records, omitting 35 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 (38); Philippines (19); Madagascar (15); Chinese Taipei (14); Mozambique (13); Indonesia (11); China (10); Japan (7); Kenya (7); Papua New Guinea (5); India (4); Singapore (4); Tanzania, United Republic of (4); Mauritius (3); South Africa (3).
Marine regions with a valid WoRMS distribution record: Mozambican Exclusive Economic Zone; Kenyan Exclusive Economic Zone; Tanzanian Exclusive Economic Zone; Madagascar; Somali Exclusive Economic Zone.
Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 2333084) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=2333084&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218017 (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 Hippichthys cyanospilos (Bleeker, 1854) 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 183167) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/183167/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 2333084) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/2333084/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.
Description and natural history (Wikipedia)
The blue-spotted pipefish is a small-sized fish that can reach a maximum length of 16 cm.
Its head is in the continuity of the body. The snout is tapered and have a medium length. The body has a somewhat angular appearance due to the presence of four discontinuous longitudinal ridges distributed over the dorsal and ventral side. The caudal fin is small and narrow. The body coloration may range from yellow to light brown through almost black. The color can be plain, spotted or mottled with white, yellow or light blue. The dorsal fin is usually whitish with 3-4 small brownish spots on each of its 20-28 rays.
The blue-spotted pipefish is widespread throughout the tropical, subtropical and temperate waters of the Indo-Pacific from the eastern coast of Africa, Red Sea included, to Fidji and Philippines and from south Japan to north coast of Australia).
The blue-spotted pipefish likes the shallow waters of estuaries from small coastal rivers and mangrove area.
The bluespeckled pipefish feeds on planktonic crustacean.
It is ovoviviparous and it is the male who broods the eggs in its ventral brood pouch. The latter includes villi rich in capillaries that surround each fertilized egg creating a sort of placenta supplying the embryos. When fully grown, pups will be expelled from the pocket and evolve in complete autonomy.
Source: Wikipedia: Hippichthys cyanospilos — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hippichthys_cyanospilos (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.
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