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Edmondson's pipefish (Halicampus edmondsoni) — Syngnathidae

Edmondson's pipefish

Halicampus edmondsoni
Family: Syngnathidae
LC · Least Concern

The Edmondson's pipefish (Halicampus edmondsoni) is a saltwater fish of the family Syngnathidae that grows up to 9 cm.

Length
9.4 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–33.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Hawaiian Islands
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

Edmondson's pipefish is a small pipefish endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. The species grows to about 9 cm and has a very slender, bony-ringed body with small skin flaps. As a bottom-dweller it shelters among rubble, weeds and coral of shallow reefs and sucks up small plankton with its tubular snout. The male carries the eggs until they hatch. The fish is harmless to humans and is assessed as Least Concern (LC) by the IUCN.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Edmondson's pipefish?

The Edmondson's pipefish has a snake-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern. Very slender ringed body; the male carries the eggs

Where does the Edmondson's pipefish live?

The Edmondson's pipefish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Hawaiian Islands

How big does the Edmondson's pipefish get?

The Edmondson's pipefish grows to a maximum of about 9 cm.

Is the Edmondson's pipefish dangerous to humans?

No, the Edmondson's 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 Edmondson's pipefish edible?

The Edmondson's pipefish is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

English name
Edmondson's pipefish verified
Scientific name
Halicampus edmondsoni
Family
Syngnathidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
9.4 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
Min depth (m)
1.0 verified
Max depth (m)
33.0 verified
Natural range
Hawaiian Islands verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Small zooplankton inferred
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Concealed reef pipefish; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Very slender ringed body; the male carries the eggs 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 Halicampus

More from the family Syngnathidae

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