Habitat: Little known for either species. For the Knife snout Pipefish seagrass beds. A Knife snout Pipefish sub-adult was recently hand netted at 1m depth at the Edithburgh Marina (image above, Browne, 2004). The Shaggy Pipefish is trawled at 40-55m (Kuiter 2000).

Range: The Knife snout Pipefish ranges from Bass Straight to the eastern Great Australian Bight. The Shaggy Pipefish is trawled in the Great Australian Bight.

Distribution: Not known for either species. Juveniles of the Knife snout Pipefish to 15cm are associated with large oceanic jellyfish with adults observed to be dispersed on sand flats at 10m (Kuiter 2000).

Population Ecology: Not known.

Reproduction: Not known for the Knife snout Pipefish. Three males of the Shaggy pipefish had 20-60-80 eggs, and average 54 eggs, with the smallest egg carrying male 230mm in length (Browne 2003).

Conservation: As the Knife snout Pipefish lives from shallow to moderate depths in seagrass, a habitat of great extent in southern Australia, there is no apparent conservation concern. Depending on the range, distribution, and habitat of the Shaggy Pipefish in respect to the Great Australian Bight trawl fishery there may be some concern for its conservation. However, there is no apparent reason to expect a significant affect by trawling on its survival.

Knife snout Pipefish Hypselognathus rostratus: Ranges from Bass Straight to South Australia. Adults are rarely seen but this is probably due to sampling bias as this species probably inhabits unsilted seagrass meadows at moderate depths. Extensive areas of this habitat remain in undeveloped estuaries and bays and this wide spread species appears secure