Solenostomus cyanopterus

Robust Ghostpipefish | Squaretail Ghost Pipefish
Solenostomus cyanopterus
Solenostomus cyanopterus, Sulawesi, Indonesia, Photo: Ian Shaw
Solenostomus cyanopterus
Solenostomus cyanopterus, Sulawesi, Indonesia, Photo: Ian Shaw
Solenostomus cyanopterus
Solenostomus cyanopterus, Port Stephens, New South Wales, Australia, Photo: Tom Davis
Solenostomus cyanopterus
Solenostomus cyanopterus, Port Stephens, New South Wales, Australia, Photo: Tom Davis
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Solenostomus cyanopterus
Solenostomus cyanopterus
Solenostomus cyanopterus
Solenostomus cyanopterus

Distribution

Temperate Australasia, Tropical Indo-Pacific


Description

Numerous colour forms. Extraordinary camouflage as pieces of weed, swimming and drifting in almost perfect imitation. Smoother body than other Solenostomus species (Ghostpipefishes), lacking filaments or spikes.


Information

Max Size: 17 cm

Sea Temperature Range: 16.6-31.6°C

Depth: 0-25m

Habitat Generalization Index: N/A

Also referred to as the SGI (Species Generalisation Index), this describes the habitat niche breadth of the species. Species with values less than 15 are found in a relatively narrow range of reef habitat types (specialists), while those over 25 may be found on most hard substrates within their range (generalists). Learn more here.


Conservation and Rarity

IUCN Status: Not Evaluated

Occurrence: Rare (0.7% of sites)

Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed

Abundance: Few (2 per transect)

Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.


Edit by: RD Stuart-Smith, GJ Edgar, AJ Green, IV Shaw. 2015. Tropical Marine Fishes of Australia. Reed New Holland