Pipefish

Solenostomus paradoxus

I found this on http://animaldiversity.org

Domain-  Eukarya

Kingdom-  Animalia

Phylum-  Chordata

Class- Actinopterygii

Order-  Syngnathiformes

Family- Solenostomidae

Genus- Solenostomus

Species-Paradoxus

Habitat- Are found in shallow waters, mainly near coral reefs, rocky drop-offs or seaweed beds.

Have bilateral symmetry, are heterotrophic, and are ectothermic. The pipefish has a head region that represents over one third of the total body length. The typical body color patterns include dark red with yellow and orange splotches and yellow with light spots. They usually travel alone but have been seen in pairs. They are known to be weak swimmers and move forward by fanning its fins rapidly. Very little is known about their behavior. Their brood size can be as high as 350. The pipefish is an ambush predator that eats by sucking small aquatics animals into its mouth.