Short-tail Pipefish, Microphis brachyurus (Bleeker 1853)

Other Names: Short-tail River Pipefish, Short-tailed Pipefish

Summary:

A brownish-green pipefish becoming paler below, with white spots or blotches on the snout, a dark stripe through the eye, and very small pale spots on the sides. Juveniles may have 3–4 broad brownish bands along the tail.

Cite this page as:

Bray, D.J. & Thompson, V.J. 2025, Microphis brachyurus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 23 Apr 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3116

Short-tail Pipefish, Microphis brachyurus (Bleeker 1853)

More Info

Distribution	Cape York, south to Johnstone River, Queensland. Elsewhere the species is widespread in the Indo-west-central Pacific: southern India, Sri Lanka, southeast Asia, Papua New Guinea the Philippines, China, Japan, eastwards to Tonga and the Society Islands. Inhabits shallow waters in the lower reaches of freshwater streams, mangrove estuaries, tidal creeks, harbours and bays, to a depth of 3 m. Juveniles and subadults usually occur in estuaries, while adults are often found upstream in freshwater areas. Immature individuals may occur in drifting algae in offshore waters.
Features	Dorsal fin 37–47; Anal fin 4; Pectoral fin 19–23; Trunk rings 20–22; Tail rings 21–24; Sub-dorsal rings 2.0–0.25 + 6.5–8.75 = 7.5–9.5. Superior trunk and tail ridges discontinuous near vertical through rear of dorsal-fin base; lateral tail ridge ends on trunk, usually near vertical through dorsal-fin origin; inferior trunk and tail ridges discontinuous; ventral surface of trunk more or less V-shaped in adult females; head length 4.2–5.3 in SL; median dorsal snout ridge low, entire; snout long and slender, 1.5–1.8 in head length. Male brood pouch on underside of trunk. Pectoral fin base does not protrude strongly laterally; dorsal fin originates on trunk, its base not elevated.
Size	A relatively large species, reaching a maximum length of 22 cm.
Colour	Overall brownish-green, pale to white ventrally with white spots on snout and very small pale spots on sides. Juveniles may have 3–4 broad brownish bands on the tail.
Feeding	Feeds on small invertebrates such as worms, crustaceans and zooplankton.
Biology	Breeds in freshwater regions of rivers and streams. The eggs brooded by the male parent in a brood pouch on the underside of the trunk, originating on 1^st–3^rd trunk ring; pouch plates are well developed and membranous egg compartments present; males may be brooding at 120 mm SL. Eggs are deposited in 1–14 transverse rows in 1–2 layers; Large males can brood several hundred eggs; male brood pouch contains between 18–287 eggs in Japanese specimens, each measuring ~1.16 mm. After birth, the larvae grow and develop at sea, returning to freshwater areas to mature and breed. Newly released larvae have a well-developed fin fold and indistinct body rings. Body rings are present at an early stage, and the anal fin is reduced; pelagic juveniles may have a greatly enlarged tail.
Fisheries	Occasionally collected for the aquarium trade.
Conservation	Marine listed under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).
Remarks	One of only a few pipefishes found in freshwater streams and estuaries.
Similar Species	Short-tail Pipefish differs from Microphis manadensis in having a higher average snout depth in snout length ration than M. brachyurus (8.7-10.6 vs 6.7) and lower frequencies of total rings (39-44 versus 45-47). M. manadensis has a lower average snout depth in snout length ration than M. brachyurus ssp. (6.7 versus 8.7-10.6) and higher frequencies of total rings (45-47 versus 39-44).
Etymology	Microphis is from the Greek mikros (= small) and ophis (= serpent).
Species Citation	Syngnathus brachyurus Bleeker 1853, Verhandelingen van het Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen 25: 16. Type locality: Batavia, Panimbang, western Java; Priaman, western Sumatra, Indonesia.
Author	Bray, D.J. & Thompson, V.J. 2025
Resources	Atlas of Living Australia Australian Faunal Directory Catalog of Fishes

Short-tail Pipefish, Microphis brachyurus (Bleeker 1853)

References

Allen, G.R., Midgley, S.H. & Allen, M. 2002. Field Guide to the Freshwater Fishes of Australia. Perth Australia : Western Australian Museum. 394 pp.

Bleeker, P. 1853. Bijdrage tot de kennis der Troskieuwige visschen van den Indischen Archipel. Verhandelingen van het Bataviaasch Genootschap van Kunsten en Wetenschappen 25: 1-30.

Dawson, C.E. 1979. Review of the polytypic doryrhamphine pipefish Oostethus brachyurus (Bleeker). Bulletin of Marine Science 29(4): 465-480.

Dawson, C.E. 1984. Revision of the genus Microphis Kaup (Pisces: Syngnathidae). Bulletin of Marine Science 35(2): 117-181.

Dawson, C.E. 1985. Indo-Pacific Pipefishes (Red Sea to the Americas). Gulf Coast Research Laboratory, Ocean Springs, Mississippi. 230 pp.

Fricke, R. 2004. Review of the pipefishes and seahorses (Teleostei: Syngnathidae) of New Caledonia, with descriptions of five new species. Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde. Serie A (Biologie). 66S: 1-66.

Kuiter, R.H. 2009. Seahorses and their relatives. Aquatic Photographics, Seaford, Australia. Pp. 1–333.

Minami, T & Kimura, S. 1988. Syngnathidae, pp 312–317 in Okiyama, M. (ed.) An atlas of the early stage fishes in Japan. Tokai University Press, Tokyo. 1157 pp. [in Japanese]

Myers, R.F. 1999. Micronesian reef fishes: a comprehensive guide to the coral reef fishes of Micronesia. 3rd revised and expanded edition. Coral Graphics, Barrigada, Guam. 330 pp.

Nakazato, Y. & Fujita, Y. 1986. Distribution, spawning, egg development and pre-flexion larvae of Microphis (Oostethus) brachyurus brachyurus in Izu, Sagami and Bousou. Suisan Zousyoku 33: 230–239.

NatureServe, Sparks, J.S. & Lyons, T.J. 2019. Microphis brachyurus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T181547A130020921. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T181547A130020921.en. Accessed on 17 December 2024.

Paulus, T. 1999. Family Syngnathidae. pp 2264-2276 in Carpenter K.E. & Niem, V.H. (eds) The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide For Fisheries Purposes. FAO Vol. 4. pp 2069-2790.

Yoshino, T. & Yoshigou, H. 1998. First records of two freshwater pipefishes of the genus Microphis (Syngnathiformes:Syngnathidae) from Japan. Japanese Journal of Ichthyology 45: 201–204.