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NOVEL TYPE 1 PIPEFISH

Probable Stigmatopora nov. sp in study and description by Dr Robert Browne and Kevin Smith

of the Inshore Fish Group

Novel type 1  pipefish is a probable new species of Stigmatopora that we still know little about.

pipefish -photo by David Muirhead l pipefish with 2 grass clingfishpipefish photos David MuirheadPipefish

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 is endemic to southern Australasia.  Besides Novel type 1 pipefish, the Stigmatopora spp. genera currently comprises one species in description, the Southern Gulfs pipefish, the described Wide-body pipefish S. nigra and Spotted pipefish S. argus, and the New Zealand Smooth pipefish S. macropterygia. 

Stigmatopora spStigmatopora sp

RANGE: Muirhead's pipefish has only been found at Seacliff and Normanville south of Adelaide in Gulf St Vincent, South Australia.  Novel type 1 pipefish is found from 1-6 meters depth. 

DISTRIBUTION: Low to moderate energy coastlines in Gulf St. Vincent.

HABITAT: In patches in fine brown algae.

REPRODUCTION: The only male with the number of young counted had 64 late egg sack larvae.  Besides the difference in color and conformity this number of eggs makes the IFG strongly feel that this type is a new species.  The most similar Stigmatopora brood many less eggs about 20 for the similar sized Wide-body pipefish and about 40 for the much larger Spotted pipefish.