New Pygmy Pipehorse described

News from the world of science!

A recently discovered pygmy pipehorse has been described from Lembeh Straits, Sulawesi, Indonesia.  It has been named Kyonemichthys rumengani.  I have seen this amazing species at Wakatobi resort in southern Sulawesi where quite a few are now being found on the reefs there.

This is the smallest species of syngnathid (pipefish and seahorse) by weight, even smaller than the pygmy seahorses.  It reaches around 3cm in length but is exceedingly slender.  Red filaments are found on the head and mid way down the trunk, there is also a longer, more rigid process on the back.  This species uses the tip of its prehensile tail to hold the substratum, mostly hydroids or small halimeda clumps.  It tends to be be found fairly shallow at between 5-15m.

Please let me know if you see this species outside Sulawesi, since it is such a recently discovered fish it will be great to gather as much information as possible about it.

Rich