Hippichthys heptagonus

Hippichthys heptagonus, the belly pipefish, is a species of freshwater pipefish of the family Syngnathidae. It is found from Kenya and South Africa to the Solomon Islands, and from southern Japan to New South Wales.^[1] It is a demersal species, living in the lower parts of rivers and streams, estuary habitats such as mangroves and tidal creeks, and occasionally in large lakes.^[1][2] It feeds on small crustaceans, such as copepods and cladocerans, as well as dipteran and ephemopteran larvae.^[1] It can grow to lengths of 15 centimetres (5.9 in).^[2] This species is ovoviviparous, with females depositing eggs on the males, who in turn give birth to live young several weeks later. Males may brood at 6.5–7.5 centimetres (2.6–3.0 in).^[1][2]

Belly pipefish
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Syngnathiformes
Family:	Syngnathidae
Genus:	Hippichthys
Species:	H. heptagonus
Binomial name
Hippichthys heptagonus Bleeker, 1849
Synonyms
Bombonia djarong Bleeker, 1853 Bombonia luzonica Herre, 1927 Bombonia uxorius Herre, 1935 Corythroichthys matterni Fowler, 1918 Corythroichthys pullus Smith & Seale, 1906 Hippichthys heptagoneus Bleeker, 1849 Hippichthys luzonica Herre, 1927 Oxleyana parviceps Ramsay & Ogilby, 1886 Syngnathus djarong Bleeker, 1853 Syngnathus djarong subsp. luzonica Herre, 1927 Syngnathus helfrichii Bleeker, 1855 Syngnathus matterni Fowler, 1918 Syngnathus parviceps Ramsay & Ogilby, 1886 Syngnathus spicifer subsp. djarong Bleeker, 1853 Syngnathus spicifer subsp. rivalis Peters, 1868

Identification

Hippichthys heptagonus can be recognized by its brownish colour, alternating dark and light bands along the back and sides, black stripe on the snout, and black bands radiating from the eye.^[3]