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Ocellated pipefish (Corythoichthys ocellatus) — Syngnathidae

Ocellated pipefish

Corythoichthys ocellatus
Family: Syngnathidae

The Ocellated pipefish (Corythoichthys ocellatus) is a saltwater fish of the family Syngnathidae that grows up to 10 cm.

Length
10.3 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
1.0–12.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Range
Oceania: Australia, Solomon Is., Indonesia, New Caledonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea and others

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Description

The Ocellated pipefish is a pipefish (Syngnathidae) from the western Pacific. The species grows to about 10 cm and has a very slender body armoured in bony rings with a long, tubular snout. The body bears a few eyespots and fine crossbars. 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 Ocellated pipefish?

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

Where does the Ocellated pipefish live?

The Ocellated pipefish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground. Oceania: Australia, Solomon Is., Indonesia, New Caledonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea and others

How big does the Ocellated pipefish get?

The Ocellated pipefish grows to a maximum of about 10 cm.

Is the Ocellated pipefish dangerous to humans?

No, the Ocellated 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

Ocellated pipefish (Corythoichthys ocellatus) — Syngnathidae — 2
Wikimedia Commons — Rickard Zerpe (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Ocellated pipefish (Corythoichthys ocellatus) — Syngnathidae — 3
Wikimedia Commons — Rickard Zerpe (CC BY-SA 2.0)
Ocellated pipefish (Corythoichthys ocellatus) — Syngnathidae — 4
iNaturalist ((c) Pauline Fey, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Ocellated pipefish (Corythoichthys ocellatus) — Syngnathidae — 5
iNaturalist ((c) Sue Churchill, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
Fin

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All data

Identification

English name
Ocellated pipefish sourced
Scientific name
Corythoichthys ocellatus
Family
Syngnathidae
Other names
Ocellated pipefish; Orange-spotted pipefish; Ocellate pipefish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
10.3 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)
12.0 verified
Natural range
Oceania: Australia, Solomon Is., Indonesia, New Caledonia, Palau, Papua New Guinea 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

Brown-banded pipefish (Corythoichthys amplexus) — Syngnathidae
Brown-banded pipefish
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Australian banded pipe
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Syngnathidae
 Guilded pipefish (Corythoichthys schultzi) — Syngnathidae
Guilded pipefish
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Syngnathidae

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