Siokunichthys breviceps Smith, 1963
Softcoral pipefish
Siokunichthys breviceps
photo by Ryanskiy, A.

Family:  Syngnathidae (Pipefishes and seahorses), subfamily: Syngnathinae
Max. size:  15 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 3 - 12 m
Distribution:  Western Indian Ocean: Mozambique. Western Pacific: Indonesia, the Philippines, and Queensland, Australia.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 27-33. Uniform light cream for the type material of West Indian Ocean species; the west Pacific form has a banded pattern (Ref. 48635). Description: Characterized by head, trunk and tail with numerous diffuse brown bars; absence of anal fin; 10 caudal rays; rings 12-14 + 56-60; continuous superior trunk and tail ridges; inferior trunk ridge ends at anal ring; confluent lateral trunk ridge with inferior tail ridge; length of snout 2.3-4.0 in head length; depth of snout 1.2-3.4 in snout length; head length 12.4-17.6 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Caught by surface dip-nets from coral rubbles and coral heads from 0 to 21.9 m. Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Data deficient (DD); Date assessed: 06 November 2015 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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