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Ornate ghost pipefish
Scientific name : Solenostomus paradoxus
One of the more beautiful reef fishes, long up to 11 cm. Long snout, expanded fins, many skin filaments. Colour highly variable, with a patchwork of white, yellow, orange, red, brown, black spots and bands. The female, larger, has ventral fins expanded forming a breeding pouch, in which eggs are incubated. Based on our experience, in a pair male and female have usually the same colour. Actually they have a long pelagic phase, during which they are transparent larvae. They settle, in coastal water, only for mating and breeding. During this phase they change colour. Below a post larval specimen just settled. Easily distinguished from the other Solenostomus due to the skin filaments and the colour pattern.
Associated organisms
Normally found close to featherstars, that they mimic, thanks to colour and shape. Also found in the proximity of gorgonians, sea pens, soft corals, black corals.
Habitat:
Back reef, Coastal bay, Lagoon
Distribution:
Indo-Pacific
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