Long-tailed ghost pipefish

The long-tailed ghost pipefish ( Solenostomus armatus ) is the rarest species of the family of ghost pipefish ( Solenostomidae ). He is known only from a few locations in the tropical western Pacific, including the Arafura Sea and the Fiji Islands.

Features

The long-tailed ghost pipefish is six to twelve inches long. It has a striking, long- drawn-out tubular snout. Its body is armored by a total of 33 to 35 bone plates. The swirl number is 32 to 33 The first dorsal fin is supported by five spines, the second, as well as the anal fin, 20 to 22 soft rays. The tail fins stalk and the tail fin are long. Color and pattern of the animals are variable, dark -colored often show reticulated yellow or orange spots on a dark red color, bright long tail ghost pipe fish are yellow to beige with a few dark spots. Between the first and third fin spines of the first dorsal fin there are two large black spots.

Way of life

Long-tailed ghost pipefish live site faithful over muddy bottoms at depths up to 95 meters. As with all ghost pipefish females carry their eggs around in a brood pouch which shape of the pressed-together pelvic fins with it.