WHATSTHATFISH
Bony fish

Honshu Pipefish

Doryhamphus japonicus

Also known as: Blackside Pipefish, Flagtail Pipefish, Japanese Blue-striped Pipefish

Adult
@Jorge · Lembeh Straight, Indonesia · January 20111 / 1
01

Overview

Found singly, or in pairs, a cleaner pipefish found sheltering in caves, reef crevices, sponges and in the spines of sea urchins, sharing space with other creatures, like moray eels, mud crabs, and shrimps, over coastal lagoons, in tide-pools, and outer reefs.
They feed on parasites from other fish and zooplankton, which they suck whole into their mouths.

Pipefish are like seahorses in that the male gives birth!
The female deposits their eggs after fertilisation into the males pouch located under their tail to incubate the eggs for one month before giving birth.

02

How to identify

Pattern
stripes
Fins & Tail
flag tail

Tap any trait to see other fish that share it.

03

Habitat & where to find it

  • Range · Western Pacific
  • Country only · 1
LIVES IN

Found singly, or in pairs, a cleaner pipefish found sheltering in caves, reef crevices, sponges and in the spines of sea urchins, sharing space with other creatures, like moray eels, mud crabs, and shrimps, over coastal lagoons, in tide-pools, and outer reefs.

04

Adult photos 1

05

Discussion

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    ALL STAGES
    FOR THE MARINE-BIOLOGY CURIOUS

    Deep dive

    Taxonomy

    1. kingdomAnimalia
    2. phylumChordata
    3. classTeleostei
    4. orderSyngnathiformes
    5. familySyngnathidae
    6. genusDoryrhamphus
    7. speciesDoryhamphus japonicus

    SourcesFishBase

    06

    More in the family

    Pipefishes-Seahorses (Syngnathidae)