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Many-banded pipefish (Dunckerocampus multiannulatus) — Syngnathidae

Many-banded pipefish

Dunckerocampus multiannulatus
Family: Syngnathidae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Many-banded pipefish (Dunckerocampus multiannulatus) is a saltwater fish of the family Syngnathidae that grows up to 19 cm.

Length
19 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
3.0–45.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Western Indian Ocean
Edibility
Not eaten

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Description

The many-banded pipefish is a large, colourful pipefish from the western Indian Ocean, including the Red Sea. The species grows to about 19 cm and has an extremely slender body banded along its whole length with numerous narrow dark rings, and a striking red, white-edged, fan-shaped tail. It lives among coral and in caves on the reef and acts partly as a cleaner fish. As in pipefishes, the male carries the eggs. The fish appears in the reef aquarium. The IUCN has not evaluated the species.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Many-banded pipefish?

The Many-banded pipefish has a snake-like body, is mainly red-orange and shows a vertical stripes pattern. Numerous dark rings and a red fan-shaped tail; cleaner pipefish, male carries the eggs

Where does the Many-banded pipefish live?

The Many-banded pipefish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Western Indian Ocean

How big does the Many-banded pipefish get?

The Many-banded pipefish grows to a maximum of about 19 cm.

Is the Many-banded pipefish dangerous to humans?

No, the Many-banded 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 Many-banded pipefish edible?

The Many-banded pipefish is not usually eaten.

More photos

Many-banded pipefish (Dunckerocampus multiannulatus) — Syngnathidae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Kai Medina (Mk170101) (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Many-banded pipefish (Dunckerocampus multiannulatus) — Syngnathidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Kai Medina (Mk170101) (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Many-banded pipefish (Dunckerocampus multiannulatus) — Syngnathidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Tom Heijnen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Many-banded pipefish (Dunckerocampus multiannulatus) — Syngnathidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Sylvain Le Bris, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
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All data

Identification

English name
Many-banded pipefish verified
Scientific name
Dunckerocampus multiannulatus
Family
Syngnathidae
Other names
Many-banded pipefish; Many-bands pipefish verified

Appearance

Size class
Medium verified
Max length (cm)
19.0 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Red / orange sourced
Pattern
Vertical bars sourced
Tail shape
Rounded inferred
Mouth position
Beak-shaped 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)
3.0 verified
Max depth (m)
45.0 verified
Natural range
Western Indian Ocean verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Parasites and minute crustaceans inferred
Social behaviour
Small groups sourced
Territorial
Yes sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Cleaner pipefish of the reef; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Numerous dark rings and a red fan-shaped tail; cleaner pipefish, male carries the eggs sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Fishing with natural bait (fish, shrimp, worm) or lures close to reef and rock structures. 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 Dunckerocampus

More from the family Syngnathidae

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