Madura Pipefish

Interesting Info

• The Madura Pipefish is a slender, elongated fish in the Syngnathidae family, which also includes seahorses and seadragons.
• They are found throughout the Indo-Pacific, including northern Australia (Queensland, Northern Territory, Western Australia).
• Its scientific name heptagonus means “seven-angled,” referring to the seven-sided cross-section of its body, a unique feature that sets it apart from many other pipefish.
• Their colouration varies from brown to olive-grey, often with faint banding or mottling, making them resemble twigs or seagrass stems.
• Like all pipefish, they feed by sucking up tiny prey — mainly plankton, crustaceans, and insect larvae — with their long, straw-like snout.
• They prefer estuaries, mangrove creeks, seagrass beds, and sheltered coastal lagoons, where their camouflage helps them avoid predators.
• Breeding is unique: females transfer eggs to the male’s brood pouch, located under his tail. The male incubates the eggs for several weeks, supplying oxygen and nutrients until the tiny pipefish hatch and swim away.
• They can reproduce multiple times during the warmer months, allowing populations to bounce back quickly in good conditions.
• Lifespan is estimated at 1–3 years, typical for small pipefish, though some may live longer in stable habitats.