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Broad-banded pipefish (Dunckerocampus boylei) — Syngnathidae

Broad-banded pipefish

Dunckerocampus boylei
Family: Syngnathidae

The Broad-banded pipefish (Dunckerocampus boylei) is a saltwater fish of the family Syngnathidae that grows up to 16 cm.

Length
16 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
20.0–95.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom
Danger
Harmless

Description

The broad-banded pipefish is a colourful pipefish (Syngnathidae) from the tropical Indian Ocean. The species grows to about 16 cm and has a very slender, stiff, bony-ringed body with conspicuous, broad red-brown crossbars on a white ground and a red fan-shaped tail. As a reef-dweller it lives hidden in caves and under overhangs and sucks up small zooplankton with its tubular snout. The male carries and broods the eggs. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Broad-banded pipefish?

The Broad-banded pipefish has a snake-like body, is mainly red-orange and shows a vertical stripes pattern.

Where does the Broad-banded pipefish live?

The Broad-banded pipefish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around sand or mud bottom.

How big does the Broad-banded pipefish get?

The Broad-banded pipefish grows to a maximum of about 16 cm.

Is the Broad-banded pipefish dangerous to humans?

No, the Broad-banded pipefish is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Breedband-zeenaald sourced
English name
Broad-banded pipefish sourced
Scientific name
Dunckerocampus boylei
Family
Syngnathidae

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
16.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange sourced
Pattern
Vertical bars sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Sand / mud bottom sourced
Min depth (m)
20.0 verified
Max depth (m)
95.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Bodemvissen met natuurlijk aas (worm, garnaal of vis) op of vlak boven de bodem. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Dunckerocampus

More from the family Syngnathidae

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