Animal Species:Rhino Pipefish, Histiogamphelus cristatus (Macleay, 1882)

The Rhino Pipefish, with its slender mottled body and truncate head, looks similar to a piece of seagrass.

Rhino Pipefish, Histiogamphelus cristatus

Rhino Pipefish, Histiogamphelus cristatus
David Muirhead © David Muirhead

Alternative Name/s

Cocks-comb Pipefish, Macleay's Crested Pipefish, Spotted Crested Pipefish

Identification

The species is mottled brown in colour.  Females have blueish blotches on the sides of the body.

Juveniles have a rhino-like hump on the snout, hence the standard name.

Size range

27 cm SL

Distribution

The species endemic to Australia, occurring from eastern South Australia to south-western, Western Australia.

The map below shows the Australian distribution of the species based on public sightings and specimens in Australian Museums.  Source: Atlas of Living Australia.

Histiogamphelus cristatus

Distribution by collection data

Ozcam map of Rhino Pipefish specimens in the Australian Museums.

What does this mean?

Habitat

Usually seen in seagrass areas.

Classification

Species:
cristatus
Genus:
Histiogamphelus
Family:
Syngnathidae
Order:
Gasterosteiformes
Class:
Actinopterygii
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Phylum:
Chordata
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?

References

  1. Gomon, M.F., Bray, D. & R.H. Kuiter (Eds). 2008. The Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Reed New Holland. Pp. 928.
  2. Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & G.R. Allen. 2006. Fishes. In Beesley, P.L. & A. Wells. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Volume 35. ABRS & CSIRO Publishing: Australia. parts 1-3, pages 1-2178.


Mark McGrouther , Collection Manager, Ichthyology
Last Updated:

Tags fishes, ichthyology, Rhino Pipefish, Histiogamphelus cristatus, Syngnathidae, brown, blue, long and skinny, 10 cm - 30 cm, blotches/mottled, seagrass, marine, adult,