Hippichthys_heptagonus
Hippichthys heptagonus
Species of fish
Hippichthys heptagonus, the belly pipefish, is a species of freshwater pipefish of the family Syngnathidae. It is found from Kenya and South Africa to the Solomon Islands, and from southern Japan to New South Wales.[1] It is a demersal species, living in the lower parts of rivers and streams, estuary habitats such as mangroves and tidal creeks, and occasionally in large lakes.[1][2] It feeds on small crustaceans, such as copepods and cladocerans, as well as dipteran and ephemopteran larvae.[1] It can grow to lengths of 15 centimetres (5.9 in).[2] This species is ovoviviparous, with females depositing eggs on the males, who in turn give birth to live young several weeks later. Males may brood at 6.5–7.5 centimetres (2.6–3.0 in).[1][2]