Esa R. Mikkonen, Finnland
Info
Choeroichthys sculptus is a shy, solitary pipefish that inhabits tidal reef shallows and seagrass beds at depths of up to several meters (Kuiter 2000).
Studies of this species have found Choeroichthys sculptus in shallow mangrove basins in western Madagascar (Weis 2009), in reef flats and lagoons in southern India (Murthy et al. 1989), and in mudflats and seagrass beds (Zoostera capensis) in Mozambique (De Boer et al. 2001).
The small pipefish is characterized by a short snout and a body and tail that are approximately the same length.
The animal is dark brown in color and has 2–3 rows of black-edged white spots on its sides, larger white spots along its back, and dark spots on its underside and on both sides of its head.
The trunk and tail rings have notches between the rings with conspicuous shields, each with a protruding ridge or keel.
Males have small white ocelli in a parallel row along the trunk.
Etymology:
The genus name “Choeroichthys” comes from Greek, where “choiros” means pig and “ichthys” means fish.
The species name ‘sculptus’ comes from Latin, where sculptus means “carved,” referring to the conspicuous keeled scutella.
Synonyme:
Doryichthys sculptus Günther, 1870 · unaccepted
Doryrhamphus macgregori Jordan & Richardson, 1908 · unaccepted
Microphis ocellatus (Snyder, 1909) · unaccepted (Ambiguous synonym: not Duncker, 1910)
Our special thanks go to Esa R. Mikkonen from Finland, who took the photo of Choeroichthys sculptus in Romblon in the Philippines!
Studies of this species have found Choeroichthys sculptus in shallow mangrove basins in western Madagascar (Weis 2009), in reef flats and lagoons in southern India (Murthy et al. 1989), and in mudflats and seagrass beds (Zoostera capensis) in Mozambique (De Boer et al. 2001).
The small pipefish is characterized by a short snout and a body and tail that are approximately the same length.
The animal is dark brown in color and has 2–3 rows of black-edged white spots on its sides, larger white spots along its back, and dark spots on its underside and on both sides of its head.
The trunk and tail rings have notches between the rings with conspicuous shields, each with a protruding ridge or keel.
Males have small white ocelli in a parallel row along the trunk.
Etymology:
The genus name “Choeroichthys” comes from Greek, where “choiros” means pig and “ichthys” means fish.
The species name ‘sculptus’ comes from Latin, where sculptus means “carved,” referring to the conspicuous keeled scutella.
Synonyme:
Doryichthys sculptus Günther, 1870 · unaccepted
Doryrhamphus macgregori Jordan & Richardson, 1908 · unaccepted
Microphis ocellatus (Snyder, 1909) · unaccepted (Ambiguous synonym: not Duncker, 1910)
Our special thanks go to Esa R. Mikkonen from Finland, who took the photo of Choeroichthys sculptus in Romblon in the Philippines!
