Animal Species:Southern Pygmy Pipehorse, Idiotropiscis australe (Waite & Hale, 1921)

Alternative Name/s

Little Pipehorse, Southern Little Pipehorse

Identification

The head of the Southern Pygmy Pipehorse is roughly in line with the long axis of the body. The body may have many branching dermal flaps. The colouration of each individual probably matches its algal environment. Very little is known of the species because few species have been collected or photographed.

Size range

The species grows to about 6 cm in length.

Distribution

The species is endemic to Australia, occurring in coastal waters. It has been photographed in shallow waters and dredged from an unknown depth in Western Australia.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums. Click on the map for detailed information.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Southern Pygmy Pipehorse specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Classification

Species:

australe

Genus:

Idiotropiscis

Family:

Syngnathidae

Order:

Gasterosteiformes

Class:

Actinopterygii

Subphylum:

Vertebrata

Phylum:

Chordata

Kingdom:

Animalia

What does this mean?

References

1. Dawson, C.E. Family Sygnathidae. in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. State Print, Adelaide. Pp. 992.
2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. in Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.
3. Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Seahorses, Pipefishes and their Relatives. A Comprehensive Guide to Syngnathiformes. TMC Publishing Pp. 240.

Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated: 22 February 2013

Tags Fishes, Ichthyology, Southern Pygmy Pipehorse, Idiotropiscis australe, Syngnathidae, < 10 cm,