Back to Species Table

VERCO'S PIPEFISH

Vanacampus vercoi, Verco's pipefish (Syngnathus vercoi, Waite and Hale 1921). Vanacampus flindersi, Flinder's pipefish (Scott 1957).

The Vanacampus spp. genera currently comprises four species, Verco's pipefish / Flinder's pipefish V. vercoi, Long-snout pipefish V. poecilolaemus, Pt. Phillip pipefish V. phillipi, and the Mother-of-Pearl Pipefish V. margaritifer,  Verco's pipefish / Flinder's pipefish has 16 trunk rings in contrast to the 17-20 trunk rings of the other species. However, there is a considerable ambiguity in the discriminating meristics (counts of characteristics) of the Vanacampus species, and there are possibly a number of novel taxon in the group.

The taxon recognised by Dawson (1985) as Verco's pipefish Vanacampus vercoi (Waite and Hale 1921) lumped together as a synonym this species and Flinders pipefish, Vanacampus flindersi (Scott 1957). Both taxon are broadly sympatric with the previous Flinder's pipefish mainly found at Pelican Lagoon, Kangaroo Island, South Australia.

Scott 1957 considered that Flinder's pipefish could be distinguished from Verco's pipefish by an operculum with two distinct keels which join behind the eye. Also V. flindersi had a sharp median ridge on the head and a minute scarcely visible anal fin. The colour of Flinder's pipefish also varied from that of Verco's pipefish, with a blue spot at the top of each bar accompanying each body ring, and orange between the bars.

Superficially similar species to Verco's/Flinder's pipefish are other congeners in the Vanacampus genus, immature Deep-body pipefish Kaupus costatus, and the Pug-nose pipefish Pugnoso curtirostris.

In a recent reassessment of the collection in the South Australian Museum, among vouchered specimens female Deep-body pipefish were the most common species misidentified as Verco's pipefish.

BELOW:

Verco's/Flinders pipefish with other Vanacampus sp. can be told from Deep-body pipefish by the position of the dorsal fin. In Vanacampus sp. the dorsal fin starts at the end of the trunk above the vent. In contrast in the Deep-body pipefish the dorsal fin starts three trunk ring in front of the vent. In contrast to the Pug-nose pipefish Verco's/Flinder's pipefish has 16 trunk rings and a prominent opercular ridge.  The Pug-nose pipefish has 17-18 trunk rings and no opercular ridge. Verco's/Flinder's pipefish has a distinct colour pattern. Of the four currently recognised Vanacampus species only Verco's/Flinder's pipefish has a pug-nose and 16 trunk rings; the other species have 17-20 trunk rings.

Figure 2. A male Deep-body Pipefish (Kaupus costatus) with eggs in brood pouch. Immature and male Deepbody Pipefish look superficially similar to Verco's/Flinder's Pipefish.

Pugnaso curtirostris

Vanacampus vercoi

Side view of the head and the trunk of Verco's/Flinder's Pipefish showing the distinct bars (image Kevin Smith).

Vanacampus vercoi

 

 

RANGE: The range of Verco's/Flinder's pipefish was previously considered as mostly localised at Pelican Lagoon, Kangaroo Island, South Australia, with occasional individuals being found inshore at the southern end of York Peninsula. However, recent surveys have show that Verco's/Flinder's pipefish extend northward in Spencer's Gulf.

DISTRIBUTION: At Pelican Lagoon, Verco's/Flinder's pipefish is found along the edges of shallow tidal channels among weed beds. Other early findings were also inshore on broken bottom within sea grass areas. However, recent surveys indicate that Verco's/Flinder's pipefish is distributed at shallow to medium depths over a wide area. It is interesting to note that similar to Verco's/Flinder's pipefish, few specimens of Gales pipefish a rubble bottom species, have been found. This could indicate that sampling deficiencies common to both species have produced few individuals.

HABITAT: Although the habitat of Verco's/Flinder's pipefish at Pelican Lagoon where most specimens were initially recorded is shallow tidal channels in sea grass beds.  However, this habitat may not be typical. Verco's/Flinder's pipefish preferred habitat could be broken bottom adjacent to seagrass beds in cooler water. This habitat is found inshore at its southern range but only in deeper water further north in Spencer's Gulf and Gulf St. Vincent. The lack of brooding males from shallow sites also supports the hypothesis that Verco's/Flinder's pipefish normally inhabits deeper cooler water.

POPULATION ECOLOGY: Not known.

REPRODUCTION: There were (in 2003) no specimens lodged at the South Australian Museum with eggs and the reproduction of Verco's/Flinder's pipefish remains unknown.

CONSERVATION: Until the ecology and reproduction of Verco's/Flinder's pipefish is further elucidated this species should be regarded of conservation significance. However, the lack of breeding males in specimens from shallow inshore locations could mean that this species is a specialist of much more extensive habitats in deeper cool water.