Solegnathus

Australian Thorn Nadelpferdchen ( Solegnathus spinosissimus )

Solegnathus is a pipefish genus, which occurs in the western Pacific from southern Japan over the China Sea, Java, Flores, the Moluccas and the Banda Sea to the shores of New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania.

Features

Solegnathus species are relatively large and pipefish are 35 to 50 cm long. They look like large, elongated seahorse. Like all pipefish is Solegnathus armored by annularly arranged bone plates. The bone rings are additionally spined, which is why the animals are referred to in Asian countries as " Thorny dragon fish ". The dorsal fin is large and is located behind the anus to the tail. The breeding zone of males is under the tail. Solegnathus species live primarily in flow- exposed regions in Riffnähe over open soft soils. Their habitats are often covered with soft corals and gorgonians. The fry go after hatching about equal to benthic life. A pelagic stage is missing.

Species

There are five described species. Kuiter appoint two additional, previously undescribed species and a total of nine species of the genus to. The morphological differences between the species is low.

  • Duncker Nadelpferdchen ( Solegnathus dunckeri ), 50 cm long, coast of New South Wales to South Queensland.
  • Hardwicks Nadelpferdchen ( Solegnathus hardwickii ), 50 cm long, China Sea to southern Japan.
  • Indonesian Nadelpferdchen ( Solegnathus lettiensis ), 45 cm long, Banda, Java, Moluccas, Flores.
  • Robust Thorn Nadelpferdchen ( Solegnathus robustus ), 40 cm long, coast of Flinders Iceland.
  • Australian Thorn Nadelpferdchen ( Solegnathus spinosissimus ), 50 cm long, coast of Tasmania.
  • Queensland Thorn Nadelpferdchen ( Solegnathus sp. 1 ), 50 cm long, Queensland and northern New South Wales.
  • Western Nadelpferdchen ( Solegnathus sp. 2 ), 50 cm long, Western Australia.

Outer systematics

Solegnathus is the sister group of the pipefish, which are also provided by Kuiter in the subfamily Solegnathinae. In Wilson & Rouse, they form the subfamily Phyllopteryginae.

Syngnathiformes William John Swainson Syngnathidae China Seas Maluku Islands Flinders Island Weedy sea dragon Digital Object Identifier FishBase
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