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Paxton's pipefish (Corythoichthys paxtoni) — Syngnathidae

Paxton's pipefish

Corythoichthys paxtoni
Family: Syngnathidae
LC · Least Concern

The Paxton's pipefish (Corythoichthys paxtoni) is a saltwater fish of the family Syngnathidae that grows up to 13 cm.

Length
13.4 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0–18 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Western Pacific; coral reefs.
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

Paxton's pipefish is a pipefish (Syngnathidae) from the western Pacific. The species has a thin, elongate body armoured with bony rings, a tube-shaped snout and a fine brown-white banded pattern that lets it blend into the reef. It lives on coral reefs and creeps among coral and growth, where with its snout it sucks up small zooplankton. The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch under the tail. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Paxton's pipefish?

The Paxton's pipefish has a snake-like body, is mainly brown and shows a vertical stripes pattern. Finely banded, armoured pipefish; the male carries the eggs in a brood pouch.

Where does the Paxton's pipefish live?

The Paxton's pipefish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Western Pacific; coral reefs.

How big does the Paxton's pipefish get?

The Paxton's pipefish grows to a maximum of about 13 cm.

Is the Paxton's pipefish dangerous to humans?

No, the Paxton's pipefish is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Paxton's pipefish edible?

The Paxton's pipefish is not usually eaten.

More photos

Paxton's pipefish (Corythoichthys paxtoni) — Syngnathidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) juju98, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))

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All data

Identification

English name
Paxton's pipefish verified
Scientific name
Corythoichthys paxtoni
Family
Syngnathidae
Other names
Paxton's pipefish verified

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Max depth (m)
18 verified
Natural range
Western Pacific; coral reefs.
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small zooplankton sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups
Territorial
No
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
Yes
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known.
Special features
Finely banded, armoured pipefish; the male carries the eggs in a brood pouch. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish.
Regulations source

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Corythoichthys

More from the family Syngnathidae

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