Black Rock Pipefish

Description: Characterized by pale grey to brown color with dark spots along side of trunk in rows, one on each ridge and dark bar across ventral surface of each trunk ring, darker and more distinct anteriorly; 10 caudal rays; rings 16-17 + 29-32; continuous superior and inferior trunk ridges with respective tail ridges; lateral trunk ridge ends midlaterally between first and fifth tail ring; length of snout 2.4-3.1 in head length; depth of snout 1.8-2.8 in snout length; head length 7.1-9.4 in SL (Ref. 90102).

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

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 20 - 24; Analspines: 0; Analsoft rays: 3 - 4

Occurs in tide pools and rocky or coral reefs. Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205).

分布於印度-西太平洋區，西起紅海及東非，東至斐濟島及東加，北至日本。臺灣發現於南部。

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相連接，下側稜則與尾部下側稜相接，中側稜平直不彎曲而終止於第3-5尾環附近，不與尾部下側稜相連。吻短於後頭部；吻部背中稜完全。主鰓蓋具一完全的中縱稜。尾環具縱棘。骨環 16-17 + 29-32；背鰭位於軀幹部，鰭條數 20-24；胸鰭鰭條數 11-13；尾鰭鰭條數10。體一致為褐色，體環間各有一不太明顯之黑色橫紋。

主要棲息於潮池與岩礁或珊瑚礁區。

Phoxocampus belcheri, also known as the rock pipefish, is a species of marine fish belonging to the family Syngnathidae. The species can be found in shallow reefs and tide pools throughout much of the Indo-Pacific ranging from the eastern coast of Africa and the Red Sea to Tonga and Japan. Its diet likely consists of small crustaceans such as copepods. Reproduction occurs through ovoviviparity in which the males brood eggs before giving live birth.

Collected from reef or tidepools at depths ranging from 0.3 to 15 m.