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Braun's pughead pipefish (Bulbonaricus brauni) — Syngnathidae

Braun's pughead pipefish

Bulbonaricus brauni
Family: Syngnathidae

The Braun's pughead pipefish (Bulbonaricus brauni) is a saltwater fish of the family Syngnathidae that grows up to 6 cm.

Length
5.5 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–10.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: Australia, Indonesia, Palau

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Description

Braun's pughead pipefish is an unusual pipefish (Syngnathidae) from the Indo-West Pacific. The species grows to about 6 cm and has a slender, eel-like body armoured in bony rings with a conspicuously short, blunt snout. It lives almost hidden among the branches of living stony coral, especially Galaxea, and sucks in minute crustaceans. As in other pipefish the male carries the eggs. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Braun's pughead pipefish?

The Braun's pughead pipefish has a snake-like body and is mainly brown.

Where does the Braun's pughead pipefish live?

The Braun's pughead pipefish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: Australia, Indonesia, Palau

How big does the Braun's pughead pipefish get?

The Braun's pughead pipefish grows to a maximum of about 6 cm.

Is the Braun's pughead pipefish dangerous to humans?

No, the Braun's pughead 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

Braun's pughead pipefish (Bulbonaricus brauni) — Syngnathidae — 2
Western Australian Museum (CC BY-NC 4.0) via GBIF
Braun's pughead pipefish (Bulbonaricus brauni) — Syngnathidae — 3
iNaturalist ((c) Chong Wan Yong, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Braun's pughead pipefish (Bulbonaricus brauni) — Syngnathidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Tsu Soo Tan, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Braun's pughead pipefish (Bulbonaricus brauni) — Syngnathidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Albert Kang, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Braun's pughead pipefish sourced
Scientific name
Bulbonaricus brauni
Family
Syngnathidae
Other names
Eel pipefish; Pugheaded pipefish; Pug-headed pipefish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
5.5 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)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
10.0 verified
Natural range
Oceania: Australia, Indonesia, Palau 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 Bulbonaricus

More from the family Syngnathidae

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