Pseudophallus starksii
Yellowbelly Pipefish
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Gasterosteiformes (Sticklebacks and relatives)
Syngnathidae (Pipefishes)
Pseudophallus
Pseudophallus starksii (Yellowbelly Pipefish)
Description
This species account was compiled from
FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2025. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version 04/2025.)
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Characters
Body shape: eel-like.
Distribution
Central and South America: Baja California Sur and Sinaloa, Mexico to Santa Rosa, Ecuador.
Habitat Associations
Freshwater. benthopelagic.
Biology
Occurs in rivers, streams or upper reaches of estuaries. Maximum upstream elevation of 61 m. Most common in depths less than 3 m. One specimen reported from a presumably marine habitat. Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205).
Max length: 17.6 cm SL.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: in brood pouch or similar structure; bearers (external brooders); parental care: paternal. Male carries the eggs in a brood pouch (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2015-11-26. Resilience: High (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
References
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Dawson, C.E. (1985) Indo-Pacific pipefishes (Red Sea to the Americas). The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory Ocean Springs, Mississippi, USA.
Comments On Pseudophallus starksii