Teleostei (teleosts) >
Syngnathiformes (Pipefishes and seahorses) >
Syngnathidae (Pipefishes and seahorses) > Nerophinae
Etymology: Doryrhamphus: Greek, dory = lance + Greek, rhamphos = bill, beak (Ref. 45335).
More on author: Kaup.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Marine; reef-associated; depth range 2 - 50 m (Ref. 30874). Tropical; 30°N - 32°S
Indo-Pacific and Eastern Pacific: Persian Gulf and East Africa to the west coast of the Americas. It was noted by Dawson (Ref. 5316) that there is a clinal increase in the number of total rings and dorsal rays for the 3 subspecies (Red Sea, D. e. abbreviatus and Eastern Pacific D. e. paulus (Ref. 86689).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 7.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 9710)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 21 - 29; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 4. Superior trunk and tail ridges discontinuous; inferior trunk ridge ending on anal ring; lateral trunk ridge continuous with inferior tail ridge; body rings 17-19; tail rings 13-17. Also Ref. 4281.
Body shape (shape guide): eel-like; Cross section: angular.
Uncommon, cryptic species (Ref. 5227), prefers crevices in rocks and corals and areas beneath ledges (Ref. 28023). Occurs in lagoon and seaward reefs to a depth of 45 m or more (Ref. 9710). Benthopelagic (Ref. 58302). Often seen in pairs. Uses its tubelike snout to ingest small crustaceans and plankton (Ref. 28023). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Monogamous mating is observed as both obligate and genetic (Ref. 52884). Male carries the eggs in a brood pouch (Ref. 205).
Stiller, J., G. Short, H. Hamilton, N. Saarman, S. Longo, P. Wainwright, G.W. Rouse and W.B. Simison, 2022. Phylogenomic analysis of Syngnathidae reveals novel relationships, origins of endemic diversity and variable diversification rates. BMC Biology 20 (art. 75):1-22. [New family-group names in Additional file 1.] (Ref. 127687)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Tools
Special reports
Download XML
Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Preferred temperature (Ref.
123201): 24.7 - 29, mean 27.7 °C (based on 800 cells).
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5010 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00126 (0.00065 - 0.00243), b=3.09 (2.91 - 3.27), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.5 ±0.44 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
🛈
Nutrients (Ref.
124155): Calcium = 185 [102, 389] mg/100g; Iron = 1.21 [0.67, 2.13] mg/100g; Protein = 17.4 [16.2, 18.7] %; Omega3 = 0.13 [0.07, 0.26] g/100g; Selenium = 32.9 [15.0, 83.3] μg/100g; VitaminA = 173 [55, 534] μg/100g; Zinc = 2.25 [1.44, 3.27] mg/100g (wet weight);
