ANIMAL SPECIES:Sydney's Pygmy Pipehorse, Idiotropiscis lumnitzeri Kuiter, 2004
In October 1997 a young Sydney diver, Akos Lumnitzer, brought a strange fish to the Australian Museum for identification. We identified the fish as a pipehorse but could not identify it to species. The fish was sent to one of the world experts, Rudie Kuiter, in Victoria. Rudie realised that the fish was a new species and named it in honour of Akos.
Identification
Sydney's Pygmy Pipehorse resembles a seahorse. It has a prehensile tail and a large head with a tall frontal ridge. Like a seahorse, the head is held at an angle to the body. The head of Sydney's Pygmy Pipehorse, however, is positioned at a smaller angle to the longitudinal axis of the body (about 25%) than that of seahorses and more than that of most pipefishes.
The species is white to grey or red with brown blotches or bands.
Two other species of Idiotropiscis are known from Australian waters, I. larsonae (north-western Western Australia) and I. australe (South Australia and southern Western Australia). Sydney's Pygmy Pipehorse can be distinguished from these two species by a number of characters, including a much shorter trunk region.
Size range
The largest specimen collected is the holotype, which is 55.2 mm in total length.Distribution
Sydney's Pygmy Pipehorse is known from the Sydney region and Jervis Bay in New South Wales.
Distribution by collection data
Biomaps map of Sydney's Pygmy Pipehorse specimens in the Australian Museum collection.
Habitat
It is found on semi-exposed red algae covered rocky reefs in coastal marine waters of 6 m to 30 m depth.
Behaviour and adaptations
Other behaviours and adaptations
This fish is rarely seen due to its small size and cryptic colouration.
Sydney's Pygmy Pipehorse is named after Ákos Lumnitzer who collected the type specimens. He had an aquarium collecting permit issued by New South Wales Fisheries.
Classification
- Species:
- lumnitzeri
- Genus:
- Idiotropiscis
- Family:
- Syngnathidae
- Order:
- Gasterosteiformes
- Class:
- Actinopterygii
- Subphylum:
- Vertebrata
- Phylum:
- Chordata
- Kingdom:
- Animalia
References
- Dawson, C.E. 1985. Indo-Pacific Pipefishes (Red Sea to the Americas). The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory. Pp. 230.
- Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Seahorses, Pipefishes and their Relatives. A Comprehensive Guide to Syngnathiformes. TMC Publishing Pp. 240.
- Kuiter, R. H. 2004. A new pygmy pipehorse (Pisces: Syngnathidae: Idiotropiscis) from eastern Australia. Records of the Australian Museum 56(2): 163-65.
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Sydney's Pygmy Pipehorse, Idiotropiscis lumnitzeri View full size
Noel Conlon
© Noel Conlon
Sydney's Pygmy Pipehorse View full size
Noel Conlon
© Noel Conlon
Sydney's Pygmy Pipehorse at Bare Island View full size
Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl
Sydney's Pygmy Pipehorse on a hydroid View full size
Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl
Sydney's Pygmy Pipehorse holding a sponge View full size
Erik Schlögl
© Erik Schlögl
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