Spiny Snout Pipefish

Brown with about 4 broad black bands on trunk, each separated by a thin white bar (Ref. 48635).Description: Characterized by rings 14 + 33 - 35; 10 caudal rays; discontinuous superior trunk and tail ridges; inferior trunk ridge ends at anal ring; confluent lateral trunk ridge with inferior tail ridge; discontinuous median dorsal snout ridge with 2-3 semi-isolated spines or crests; head and body with short filaments; length of snout 3.1-3.8 in head length; depth of snout 1.7-2.1 in snout length; head length 10.0-11.3 in SL (Ref. 90102).

Male carries the eggs in a brood pouch (Ref. 205).

Dorsal soft rays (total): 19 - 20; Analsoft rays: 3

Found in inshore waters (Ref. 75154).

Adults inhabit rock or coral habitats. Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205). Males may be brooding at about 10 cm SL. Also seen in sheltered water, often on rubble bottoms in 2-12 m (Ref 90102).

分布於印度-太平洋海域，西起斯里蘭卡，東至美屬薩摩亞，北至臺灣，南至澳洲昆士蘭等附近海域。臺灣發現於北部附近岩礁海域。

小型魚類，偶為潛水捕獲，除學術研究及水族觀賞外，不具食用價值。

體特別的延長和纖細，無鱗，由一系列的骨環所組成；軀幹部的上側稜與尾部上側稜不相連接，下側稜則止於臀部骨環附近而不與尾部相接，中側稜則與尾部下側稜相接；軀幹部的上側稜緣邊不具細棘齒；背鰭基底下方之體環背部隆起。吻略短，頭長為其3.1-3.8倍；吻部背中稜不連續，具2-3個半分離的棘或稜脊冠，通常具三個側吻棘以及在眶後區及眶上區後緣具棘狀稜脊。主鰓蓋具完全的中縱稜，上側縱稜的邊緣至少一半長具小齒。體環無弱縱棘；頭部及身體無大型葉狀皮瓣。骨環14 + 33-35；背鰭鰭條數19；胸鰭鰭條數13-14；尾鰭鰭條數 10。體污褐色或略淡色，頭部雜有褐色斑駁，體側另具四條不顯之黑色寬橫帶，橫帶另具白色窄橫紋。

主要棲息於潮池、珊瑚礁及岩石礁區，棲息深度可達10公尺，以小型浮游動物為食。