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Blackbreasted pipefish (Corythoichthys nigripectus) — Syngnathidae

Blackbreasted pipefish

Corythoichthys nigripectus
Family: Syngnathidae

The Blackbreasted pipefish (Corythoichthys nigripectus) is a saltwater fish of the family Syngnathidae that grows up to 11 cm.

Length
11 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
5.0–30.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Indonesia, New Caledonia, North. Marianas and others

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Description

The Blackbreasted pipefish is a pipefish (Syngnathidae) from the Indo-Pacific. The species grows to about 11 cm and has a very slender body armoured in bony rings with a long, tubular snout. The body bears fine band and dot markings and a dark breast region. As a bottom-dweller it shelters among coral and weed of shallow reefs and sucks in minute crustaceans. The male carries the eggs until they hatch. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blackbreasted pipefish?

The Blackbreasted pipefish has a snake-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Blackbreasted pipefish live?

The Blackbreasted pipefish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Indonesia, New Caledonia, North. Marianas and others

How big does the Blackbreasted pipefish get?

The Blackbreasted pipefish grows to a maximum of about 11 cm.

Is the Blackbreasted pipefish dangerous to humans?

No, the Blackbreasted pipefish is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

More photos

Blackbreasted pipefish (Corythoichthys nigripectus) — Syngnathidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Sylvain Le Bris, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Blackbreasted pipefish (Corythoichthys nigripectus) — Syngnathidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Shankar Meyer, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Blackbreasted pipefish (Corythoichthys nigripectus) — Syngnathidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Mark Rosenstein, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Blackbreasted pipefish (Corythoichthys nigripectus) — Syngnathidae — 5
Wikimedia Commons — Silke Baron (CC BY 2.0)
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All data

Identification

English name
Blackbreasted pipefish sourced
Scientific name
Corythoichthys nigripectus
Family
Syngnathidae
Other names
Black-breasted pipefish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
11.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Min depth (m)
5.0 verified
Max depth (m)
30.0 verified
Natural range
Oceania: Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Indonesia, New Caledonia, North. Marianas and others sourced
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore inferred
Diet (detail)
Small fishes, crustaceans and invertebrates inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
Yes inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

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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