Stigmatopora macropterygia, New Zealand Smooth pipefish (Syngnathus macropterygia, Dumeril 1870)

Stigmatopora spp. do not have a caudal (tail) fin, and brood on the tail. They share this characteristic with the seahorses (Hippocampus spp.), the seadragons (Phyllopteryx, Common Seadragon; Phycodurus, Leafy Seadragon) and the Solegnathus spp. pipefish.

The Stigmatopora spp. genera currently comprises two species in description, Smiths Pipefish, and the Southern Gulf Pipefish, and the described Widebody pipefish S. nigra, Spotted Pipefish S. argusi, and the New Zealand Smooth Pipefish S. macropterygia. 

SPECIES AND RANGE: The taxon recognised by Dawson 1982 as the New Zealand Smooth Pipefish only ranges over New Zealand. Found on the eastern side of the South Island to the southern tip of the North Island.