Home · Syngnathidae · Davao pughead pipefish
Davao pughead pipefish (Bulbonaricus davaoensis) — Syngnathidae

Davao pughead pipefish

Bulbonaricus davaoensis
Family: Syngnathidae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Davao pughead pipefish (Bulbonaricus davaoensis) is a saltwater fish of the family Syngnathidae that grows up to 4 cm.

Length
4.3 cm
Water
Saltwater
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Indo-West Pacific
Edibility
Not eaten

Want the complete picture on the Davao pughead pipefish?

Get the app

Description

The Davao pughead pipefish is a very small, remarkable pipefish from the Indo-West Pacific. The species reaches only about 4 cm and has a slender, worm-like body with a short, bulbous 'pughead' and an extremely short snout. Remarkably, it lives hidden among the branches of living stony corals, where it is barely visible. With its small mouth it sucks up minute crustaceans. As in pipefishes, the male carries the eggs. The fish is harmless to humans. The IUCN has not evaluated the species.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Davao pughead pipefish?

The Davao pughead pipefish has a snake-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern. Bulging 'hump-head' and a very short snout; lives hidden among stony corals

Where does the Davao pughead pipefish live?

The Davao pughead pipefish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Indo-West Pacific

How big does the Davao pughead pipefish get?

The Davao pughead pipefish grows to a maximum of about 4 cm.

Is the Davao pughead pipefish dangerous to humans?

No, the Davao 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.

Is the Davao pughead pipefish edible?

The Davao pughead pipefish is not usually eaten.

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Davao pughead pipefish?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Davao pughead pipefish is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Davao pughead pipefish verified
Scientific name
Bulbonaricus davaoensis
Family
Syngnathidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
4.3 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Brown inferred
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Terminal sourced
Lips
Thin sourced
Barbels
No sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Saltwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Natural range
Indo-West Pacific verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Minute crustaceans inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Coral-dwelling dwarf pipefish; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Bulging 'hump-head' and a very short snout; lives hidden among stony corals sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
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

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Davao pughead pipefish?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Davao pughead pipefish is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Davao pughead pipefish? Get the app