Corythoichthys flavofasciatus explained

Corythoichthys flavofasciatus, known commonly as the network pipefish, reticulate pipefish and yellow-banded pipefish, is a species of marine fish in the family Syngnathidae.

Distribution and habitat

This species can be found from the Red Sea^[1] and Eastern Africa^{[2] [3]} to the Tuamotu, the Ryukyu Islands, northern Australia and the Austral Islands. It lives in tropical climate and it is associated with lagoons and coral reefs at depths from the low tide line to 25 m.

Description

Corythoichthys flavofasciatus can reach a length of about in males. These fishes have 26-36 dorsal soft rays. Body has yellow and brown stripes, while the snout is red. Males develop orange stripes and brilliant light blue spots. This species is quite similar to Corythoichthys conspicillatus.

Biology

This species is ovoviviparous. These fishes are probably monogamous and are usually found in pairs.^[4] The male carries the eggs in a ventral pouch, which is below the tail.^[5] Hatching time usually lasts 10–12 days. These fishes feed on small invertebrates especially copepods, but also small isopods and ostracods. In French Polynesia it is predated by Epinephelus merra.

Taxonomy

Some authorities consider that Corythoichthys flavofasciatus is a species which is restricted to the Red Sea and that the species found in the remainder of the Indo-Pacific is Corythoichthys conspicillatus.^[6]

Bibliography

• Fenner, Robert M.: The Conscientious Marine Aquarist. Neptune City,: T.F.H. Publications, 2001.
• Helfman, G., B. Collette y D. Facey: The diversity of fishes. Blackwell Science, Malden, Massachusetts, 1997.
• Hoese, D.F. 1986:. A M.M. Smith y P.C. Heemstra (eds.) Smiths' sea fishes. Springer-Verlag, Berlin.
• Moyle, P. and J. Cech.: Fishes: An Introduction to Ichthyology, 4th. ed., Upper Saddle River, New jersey: Prentice-Hall.
• Nelson, J.: Fishes of the World, 3rd. ed. New York: John Wiley and Sons..
• Wheeler, A.: The World Encyclopedia of Fishes, 2nd. Ed. London: Macdonald.

Notes and References

1. Khalaf, M.A. A.M. Disi, 1997. Fishes of the Gulf of Aqaba. Marine Science Station, Aqaba, Jordania. 252 p.
2. Garpe, KC y M.C. Öhman, 2003. Coral and fish distribution patterns in Mafia Island Marine Park, Tanzania: fish-habitado interactions. Hydrobiologia 498: 191-211.
3. Fricke, R., 1999. Fishes of the Mascarene Islands (Réunion, Mauricio, Rodriguez): an Annotated checklist, with descriptions of new species. Koeltz Scientific Books, Koenigstein, Theses Zoologicae, Vol.. 31: 759 p.
4. http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=66200 Australian Government – Department of Environment and Energy
5. Breder, C.M. i D.E. Rosen, 1966. Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City. 941 p.
6. Web site: Thompson, Vanessa J. . Dianne J. Bray . amp . Corythoichthys conspicillatus . Fishes of Australia . 27 May 2018 . Museums Victoria .