Halicampus mataafae
The Samoan pipefish, or brown pipefish, is a species of marine fish of the family Syngnathidae. It is found in the Indo-Pacific, from the Red Sea, to Sodwana Bay, to Taiwan, the Marshall Islands, and Samoa, where it inhabits tidepools and coral and rocky reefs to depths of. It is a solitary species with cryptic habits and is rarely observed. It is likely to feed on small crustaceans, and can grow to lengths of. This species is ovoviviparous, with males carrying the fertilised eggs in a brood pouch, the folds of which fall well short of the centre of the egg-filled pouch, eventually giving birth to live young.
Etymology
The specific name honours Mataafa, a former king of Samoa. It is a listed marine species under the Australian Environment Protection and [Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999].Identification
H. mataafae can be identified by its reddish-brown colouring and small pale spots on its trunk and tail.Further
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Category:Taxa named by [David Starr Jordan]
Category:Taxa named by Alvin Seale
Category:Fish described in 1906
mataafae
Category:Marine fish