Fish
Harlequin Ghost Pipefish
Solenostomus paradoxus · also called ornate ghost pipefish
Hanging head-down among the arms of a feather star, a harlequin ghost pipefish sways with the current, so well disguised that it is easy to mistake for just another frond of the reef.
Overview
The harlequin ghost pipefish, Solenostomus paradoxus, is native to ocean and coastal reef habitat across the Indo-Pacific region. Its superb camouflage, close kinship with seahorses and pipefish, and egg-carrying females make it one of the most remarkable and rarely noticed small fish of the Indo-Pacific.
A seahorse relative with the roles reversed
In seahorses and true pipefish the male carries the young, but in the ghost pipefish family it is the female who broods the eggs, a reversal that sets these fish apart from their better-known relatives.
Status
Least Concern, widespread but seldom seen across suitable habitat throughout the Indo-Pacific region.
Harlequin Ghost Pipefish: common questions
What is a ghost pipefish?
It is a relative of seahorses and pipefish with a tube-like snout and bony, plated body, famous for blending in with seagrass, dead leaves, or feather stars.
Who carries the eggs in a harlequin ghost pipefish?
The female does, holding the eggs in a pouch formed by her enlarged pelvic fins, unlike seahorses and true pipefish, where the male carries them.
How does the harlequin ghost pipefish hide?
It mimics drifting seagrass, dead leaves, or a feather star, matching its colour and pattern to the surroundings and swaying gently with the current.
Where is the harlequin ghost pipefish found?
It is native to ocean and coastal reef habitat across the Indo-Pacific region.