Rhino Pipefish, Histiogamphelus cristatus (Macleay, 1882)

Scientific name: Histiogamphelus cristatus
Alternative name/s:
Cocks-comb Pipefish, Macleay's Crested Pipefish, Spotted Crested Pipefish
Rhino Pipefish,<i> Histiogamphelus cristatus</i> Click to enlarge image
A Rhino Pipefish, Histiogamphelus cristatus, at Normanville Beach, South Australia, February 2009. Image: David Muirhead
© David Muirhead

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Histiogamphelus
    Species
    cristatus
    Family
    Syngnathidae
    Order
    Syngnathiformes
    Class
    Actinopterygii
    Subphylum
    Vertebrata
    Phylum
    Chordata
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    27 cm SL

Introduction

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

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.

Habitat

Usually seen in seagrass areas.

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.

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.