Cosmocampus banneri (Herald & Randall, 1972)
Roughridge pipefish
photo by Randall, J.E.

Family:  Syngnathidae (Pipefishes and seahorses), subfamily: Syngnathinae
Max. size:  5.8 cm SL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  reef-associated; marine; depth range 2 - 30 m
Distribution:  Indo-West Pacific: Gulf of Aqaba and East Africa to Fiji, north to the Ryukyu and Marshall islands. Recently recorded from Tonga (Ref. 53797).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 16-20; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 2-4. Body usually pale, with diffuse dark bars crossing belly and lower half of trunk (Ref. 4281). Description: Characterized by having 20 caudal rays; rings 15 + 27 - 30; discontinuous superior trunk and tail ridges; straight lateral trunk ridge, ends near anal ring; continuous inferior trunk and tail ridge; length of snout 2.2-2.7 in head length; depth of snout 2.8-3.6 in snout length; head length 7.1-8.3 in SL (Ref. 90102).
Biology:  Found in coral reefs. Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 14 January 2016 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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