Harasti's pipefish (Stigmatopora harastii)

Classification (WoRMS)

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

Accepted name: Stigmatopora harastii · Authority: Short & Trevor-Jones, 2020 · Taxonomic status: accepted · AphiaID: 1468843.

Source: World Register of Marine Species (WoRMS) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1468843 (CC BY 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Biology and life history (FishBase)

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

Maximum length: 14.550000190734863 cm · Depth range: 11–12 m · Habitat zone: demersal · Body shape: elongated · Vulnerability index: 10 of 100 · Aquarium trade: never/rarely.

FishBase notes: This species inhabits semi-exposed bay entrances and ocean embayments in which the underwater terrain is characterised by sandy areas interspersed with boulders and hard flat reefs. Individuals and pairs of this species were observed in close association with a species of finger sponge appearing to a member of the family Callyspongiidae and several different species of red algae appearing to be of the family Gracilariaceae in the genera Crassiphycus and Gracilaria . It was not seen associating with any of the other numerous species of small to large sponges or tunicates present on the sessile-rich boulders nor within the canopy kelp Ecklonia radiata . It has also been observed on occasion active individuals swimming from one clump of red algae to another or feeding actively just outside the red algae. Feeding behaviour appears to be similar to other congeners, with individuals darting out from the cover of their alga to capture food such as small copepods and shrimp. (Ref. 123272).

Source: FishBase species summary (SpecCode 69299) — https://www.fishbase.se/summary/Stigmatopora-harastii.html (CC BY-NC 3.0 — non-commercial use only). Accessed 2026-09-23.

Distribution and occurrence records (GBIF)

87 georeferenced occurrence records for Stigmatopora harastii are published through GBIF from 1 countries or marine areas. The map above plots 2 distinct locations from a sample of 87 records; it shows where the species has been observed and reported, not a modelled range.

Most records by country or area: Australia (87).

Source: GBIF Occurrence Search (taxonKey 10889038) — https://www.gbif.org/occurrence/search?taxon_key=10889038&has_coordinate=true (records CC0 / CC BY); WoRMS distribution records (MarineRegions) — https://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=1468843 (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 Stigmatopora harastii Short & Trevor-Jones, 2020 as Endangered (code EN). 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 250587627) — https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/250587627/0; GBIF IUCN Red List category endpoint (taxonKey 10889038) — https://api.gbif.org/v1/species/10889038/iucnRedListCategory. Accessed 2026-09-23.

Description and natural history (Wikipedia)

This species is named after David Harasti, one of the first to recognize S. harastii as being a new species, for recognition of his efforts towards conservation of Syngnathidae in Australia, and for being an aficionado extraordinaire of his beloved genus Stigmatopora. Harasti's pipefish and red wide-bodied pipefish were proposed as the common names for S. harastii.

Stigmatopora harastii has a median ridge that is distinct, low and present on dorsum of head and first trunk ring starting from the posterior third of the frontal, over the supraoccipital, to the anterior and posterior nuchal plates. Its opercular ridge is prominent, complete, not angled dorsal. Its lateromedial ridge, distinct, low, present between opercle and pectoral fin base. Its dorsal-fin origin on 6th–7th trunk rings, subdorsal rings 19–20 (12 trunk rings + 7 or 8 tail rings); lateral trunk ridge ends on first tail ring. It has a red background colour on the dorsum of snout with large, irregular pale white spots. The sides of head and anterior trunk rings with large, irregular pale white spots or with diffuse pale white stripe. The venter of first trunk ring with distinct red elongated spots in longitudinal row, almost forming a stripe, on midline present in male. The venter of anterior trunk rings pale red with a large cluster of distinct red spots extending posteriad from second trunk ring in male, few scattered small red spots in females.

Stigmatopora harastii is currently known to occur in central New South Wales, Australia, from only three localities, including Botany Bay, Shellharbour, and Jervis BBa.

Stigmatopora harastii inhabits semi-exposed bay entrances and ocean embayments in which the underwater terrain is characterised by sandy areas interspersed with boulders and hard flat reefs. Individuals and pairs of S. harastii were observed in close association with a species of finger sponge appearing to a member of the family Callyspongiidae and several different species of red algae appearing to be of the family Gracilariaceae in the genera Crassiphycus and Gracilaria.

Source: Wikipedia: Stigmatopora harastii — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stigmatopora_harastii (CC BY-SA 4.0). Accessed 2026-09-23.