Eastern Hairy Pipefish, Urocampus coelorhynchus Günther 1873

Summary:

Prior to 2023, this species was known as Urocampus carinirostris.

Cite this page as:

Bray, D.J. 2025, Urocampus coelorhynchus in Fishes of Australia, accessed 05 Apr 2025, https://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/5662

Eastern Hairy Pipefish, Urocampus coelorhynchus Günther 1873

More Info

Distribution	Elliott Heads, Queensland, to Nadgee, New South Wales.
Features	Dorsal fin 13–16; Trunk rings 7–9 (males), 9-10 (females); Tail rings 52–55 (males), 51–53 (females); Total rings 60–63 (males), 60–62 (females). Snout length 22.3–36.1% HL; snout depth 39.5–89.7% snout length; snout length 49.3–84.8% postorbital length; pre-dorsal-fin tail length 118.4–241.6% HL in males, 85.6–152.7% HL in females; tail length 655.9–917.3% HL in males, 614.6–801.7% HL in females; supraorbital ridge usually without a distinct dent above dorsoposterior margin of orbit.
Remarks	Kuiter (2009) suggested that Urocampus coelorhynchus Günther 1873 and Urocampus guentheri Duncker 1909 may be valid species, but that further investigation was needed.
Similar Species	Urocampus coelorhynchus is similar to U. carinirostris and U. paucianulus in usually having 8 or 9 trunk rings in males and 9–10 in females, usually 14 dorsal-fin rays, and a relatively shorter snout, and lacks a distinct dent above the dorsoposterior margin of the orbit. However, U. coelorhynchus differs from U. carinirostris and U. paucianulus in total ring number, pre-dorsal-fin tail length, and tail length.
Etymology	The specific name is from the Latin coelo- (= hollow) and rhynchus (= snout), possibly in reference to the raised ridges on top and sides of the snout giving the snout a 'hollowed-out' appearance.
Species Citation	Urocampus coelorhynchus Günther 1873, Journal des Museum Godeffroy 1(2): 103. Type locality: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Author	Bray, D.J. 2025
Resources	Atlas of Living Australia Australian Faunal Directory Catalog of Fishes

Eastern Hairy Pipefish, Urocampus coelorhynchus Günther 1873

References

Araki, M.A. & Motomura, H. 2023. Review of the Indo‑West Pacific pipefish genus Urocampus (Syngnathidae), with descriptions of two new species. Ichthyological Research 70: 1-20 https://doi.org/10.1007/s10228-022-00872-3

Günther, A. 1873. Erster ichthyologischer Beitrag nach Exemplaren aus dem Museum Godeffroy. Journal des Museum Godeffroy 1(2): 97-103 See ref at BHL