Mushroom-coral pipefish

Appearance

Rings 14 + 53-55, dorsal-fin rays 30-32, dorsal-fin origin on 1.0-1.5 tail rings, total subdorsal rings 7.5-8.0, pectoral- fin rays 10-12. Measurements (mm) of brooding male holotype : SL 63.0, HL 4.2, snout length 1.2, snout depth 1.1, length o f dors al-fin base 7.1, anal ring depth lA, trunk depth 1.6, pectoral-fin length 0.6, length of pectoral-fin base 004, caudal-fin length 104. Proportional data, based on four specimens 63.0-74.0 (x = 68.9)mm SL, follow: HL in SL 15.0- 16.1 (15.5), snout length in HL 3.5-3.8 (3.6), snout depth in snout length 1.1, length of dorsal-fin base in HL 0.5-0.6 (0.6), anal ring depth in HL 2.6- 3.5 (3.0), trunk depth in HL 1.8-2.6 (2.2), pectoral-fin length in HL 6.6- 7.5 (7.2). Lower jaw deep in lateral aspect, strongly concave or scoop-like interiorly;gape strongly inclined to or somewhat past vertical through angle of articulation; dorsal margin of upper jaw high, reaches to or a little above a horizontal through dorsal rim of orbit.

Naming

Named nigrolineatus in reference to the black stripe on the head of living specimens.

Distribution

Western Central Pacific: Indonesia, Papua New Guinea and the Philippines

Habitat

Inhabits coastal reefs, usually along the bottom of shallow drop-offs, and in small groups on the solitary coral. Apparently commensal with solitary corals (e.g. Fungia echinata). Ovoviviparous. The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail. Also found among tentacles of mushroom corals (often Heliofungia actiniformes).