Home · Syngnathidae · Duncker's pipefish
Duncker's pipefish (Halicampus dunckeri) — Syngnathidae

Duncker's pipefish

Halicampus dunckeri
Family: Syngnathidae
LC · Least Concern

The Duncker's pipefish (Halicampus dunckeri) is a saltwater fish of the family Syngnathidae that grows up to 15 cm.

Length
15 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
5.0–25.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

Duncker's pipefish is a small pipefish from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 15 cm and has a slender, bony-ringed body with skin flaps and protuberances that camouflage it among weeds and rubble. As a bottom-dweller it stays on coral and rocky reefs and sucks up small plankton with its tubular snout. Like other pipefishes the male carries the eggs until they hatch. The fish is harmless to humans and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Duncker's pipefish?

The Duncker's pipefish has a snake-like body, is mainly brown and shows a marbled pattern.

Where does the Duncker's pipefish live?

The Duncker's pipefish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Duncker's pipefish get?

The Duncker's pipefish grows to a maximum of about 15 cm.

Is the Duncker's pipefish dangerous to humans?

No, the Duncker's pipefish is harmless to humans.

Is the Duncker's pipefish edible?

The Duncker's pipefish is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Dunckers zeenaald verified
English name
Duncker's pipefish verified
Scientific name
Halicampus dunckeri
Family
Syngnathidae
Other names
Duncker's pipefish; Dusky pipefish; Nose-ridge pipefish; Red-hair pipefish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
15.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Marbled sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
5.0 verified
Max depth (m)
25.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Halicampus

More from the family Syngnathidae

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