09-07-2025
Deep-water fish with ‘slender snout' and ‘compressed body' is a new species
Over the last several decades, an unusual 'slender' fish has been recorded in the deep waters of the Coral Sea, in the areas around Vanuatu and New Caledonia.
Just over 40 years after its first record in 1984, researchers have now discovered it is a new species of pipefish, according to a study published July 8 in the journal ZooKeys.
Corythoichthys quattuordecim, also known as the Coral Sea pipefish, was recorded at depths between 180 and 265 feet — much deeper than related species in the Corythoichthys genus, according to the study.
Five Coral Sea pipefish have been caught since 1984, according to the study.
Other 'reef-associated' Corythoichthys species are typically found in shallower water, no deeper than 130 feet, researchers said.
The Coral Sea pipefish is also distinguished from other related species by 'the presence of 14 trunk rings,' or bony body segments, which researchers called a rare characteristic.
The new species — part of the same family as sea dragons and seahorses — is about two and a half inches in length with an 'elongated, slightly compressed' body, and a long, 'slender' snout, the study said.
Similar to seahorses, male pipefish give birth to offspring. Male specimens of the new Coral Sea pipefish have a 'brood pouch' under their tails, according the study.
The research team included Daijiro Yuki, Ronald Fricke and Hiroyuki Motomura.
