Mushroom-Coral Pipefish

Overview

The mushroom-coral pipefish is a small, slender relative of seahorses. It is known for living on or beside mushroom corals. Its clean white body and dark eye stripe make it easy to recognise.

Distribution & habitat

It lives in the western central Pacific, with records from Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Philippines. It is found on coastal reefs, usually along the bottom of shallow drop-offs. It stays with solitary corals, apparently as a commensal partner, and is often found among the tentacles of mushroom corals such as Heliofungia.

Appearance

The body is eel-like and almost uniformly white. A thin dark band runs through the eye and across the side of the head. It has no anal fin.

Biology & behavior

It usually occurs in small groups and stays close to its host coral.

Reproduction

Like other pipefishes, it is ovoviviparous. The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch under the tail.