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Revision as of 15:57, 28 February 2018 by Alexandramercurio (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Acentronura austral, also known as Idiotropiscis australe or more commonly recognized as the southern little pipehorse, is a species of fish in the family Syngnathidae. They are found off the southern and western coasts of Australia. They were first discovered in the early 20th century in dredge samples.
Southern little pipehorses are believed to share an ancestral link with pipehorses and seahorses. Their common ancestor is believed to have lived 25 to 28 million years ago. Little research has been performed on this species of pipehorse so they are currently listed as a data deficient species. There is a possible decline of population due to vulnerability and low levels of predation. However, they are known not to be fished and are considered a protected species alongside all Syngnathidae by Australia’s Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
Description
Southern little pipehorses swim horizontally yet these pipehorses have very low mobility to balance out their prehensile tail, which allows them to grip onto marine-rooted organisms such as sponges, bryozoans, and vegetation. They are able to blend in with macroalgae, seagrass and their surrounding environment with their camouflage.
Biology The southern little pipehorse can grow up to 6 centimeters in length. These animals have a posteriorly positioned frontal ridge located on their heads. Their heads vary in length between 2.8- 3.2 centimeters and they are aligned with their bodies. Compared to other species of pipehorses, southern pygmy pipehorses have an extra trunk ring (12 vs. 11). Reproduction
Southern little pipehorses find and choose mates in areas with appropriate mating conditions. Male pipehorses carry their young in a pouch beneath their tail. Female pipehorses will watch their mate at all times until their offspring are born. Pipehorses have an ovoviviparous birth and unfortunately, they have a low reproductive rate.
Habitat
Southern little pipehorses are typically found off of Troubridge Island in Southern Australia as well as islands of off the southern region of Western Australia. They prefer areas with rocky bottoms and strong currents. These strong currents support the community of red macro-algae that the pipehorse gravitates to attach onto.They favor demersal climates and fall into the subtropical range. Besides red macro-algae, they have been found in and near seagrass beds. Southern pygmy pipehorse can survive in areas with low densities and depths above 20 meters. This species of pipehorses tend to live in particular areas of reefs for up to eight months.
References Baker, J., S. Shepherd, A. Brown, D. Muirhead, H. Crawford, and J. Lewis. "UNCOMMON AND CRYPTIC REEF FISHES: RESULTS OF PILOT SURVEYS ALONG FLEURIEU PENINSULA, SOUTHERN YORKE PENINSULA & NORTH-EASTERN KANGAROO ISLA." Report for South Australian Government’s Wildlife Conservation Fund Project No. WCF 3718, June 2008.
Browne, Robert K., Janine L. Baker, and Rod M. Connolly. "SYNGNATHIDS: SEADRAGONS, SEAHORSES, AND PIPEFISHES OF GULF ST VINCENT." Southern Australian Museum .
McClatchie, S., J. Middleton, C. Pattiaratchi, D. Currie, and G. Kendrick. "The South-west Marine Region: Ecosystems and Key Species Groups." Department of the Environment and Water Resources , 2006.
Kuiter, Rudie H. "A New Pygmy Pipehorse (Pisces: Syngnathidae: Idiotropiscis) from Eastern Australia." Records of the Australian Museum, 2004.
Scales , Helen. "Advances in the ecology, biogeography and conservation of seahorses (genus Hippocampus)." Progress in Physical Geography , 2010.
"Australian Museum." Southern Pygmy Pipehorse, Idiotropiscis australe (Waite & Hale, 1921) - Australian Museum. https://australianmuseum.net.au/southern-pygmy-pipehorse-idiotropiscis-australe#.
"Acentronura australe ." Acentronura australe (Southern Little Pipehorse, Southern Pygmy Pipehorse). http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/summary/61314/0.
"Idiotropiscis australe summary page." FishBase. http://www.fishbase.org/summary/46103#.