Home · Syngnathidae · Black rock pipefish
Black rock pipefish (Phoxocampus belcheri) — Syngnathidae

Black rock pipefish

Phoxocampus belcheri
Family: Syngnathidae
NE · Not Evaluated

The Black rock pipefish (Phoxocampus belcheri) is a saltwater fish of the family Syngnathidae that grows up to 7 cm.

Length
7.2 cm
Water
Saltwater
Depth
0.0–25.0 m
Diet
Carnivore
Behaviour
Solitary
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Snake-like
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless
Edibility
Not eaten

Description

The black rock pipefish is a small pipefish from the Indo-Pacific. The species grows to about 7 cm and has a slender, bony-ringed, dark to black body and a short, tubular snout with which it sucks up small food. As a reef-dweller it shelters in crevices and under stones on shallow reef and feeds on 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 Black rock pipefish?

The Black rock pipefish has a snake-like body, is mainly black and shows a plain pattern.

Where does the Black rock pipefish live?

The Black rock pipefish lives in the sea (marine waters) and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Black rock pipefish get?

The Black rock pipefish grows to a maximum of about 7 cm.

Is the Black rock pipefish dangerous to humans?

No, the Black rock pipefish is harmless to humans.

Is the Black rock pipefish edible?

The Black rock pipefish is not usually eaten.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Zwarte rots-zeenaald verified
English name
Black rock pipefish verified
Scientific name
Phoxocampus belcheri
Family
Syngnathidae
Other names
Black rock pipefish; Pipefish; Rock pipefish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
7.2 verified
Body shape
Snake-like sourced
Dominant colour
Black inferred
Pattern
Plain 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)
0.0 verified
Max depth (m)
25.0 verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Carnivore sourced
Social behaviour
Solitary sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Geen doelsoort voor de hengelsport; hooguit incidentele vangst of bruikbaar als aasvisje. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Phoxocampus

More from the family Syngnathidae

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