''Corythoichthys'' is a

genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...

pipefish Pipefishes or pipe-fishes (Syngnathinae) are a subfamily of small fishes, which, together with the seahorses and seadragons (''Phycodurus'' and ''Phyllopteryx''), form the family Syngnathidae. Description Pipefish look like straight-bodied seah ...

es of the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Syngnathidae The Syngnathidae is a family of fish which includes seahorses, pipefishes, and seadragons (''Phycodurus'' and '' Phyllopteryx''). The name is derived from grc, σύν (), meaning "together", and (), meaning "jaw". The fused jaw is one of the t ...

. All species in the genus are found in the tropical

Indian Indian or Indians may refer to: Peoples South Asia * Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor ** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country * South Asia ...

and

Pacific Ocean The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's five oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic Ocean in the north to the Southern Ocean (or, depending on definition, to Antarctica) in the south, and is bounded by the continen ...

s on reefs or rubble bottoms. Relationships and taxonomy within the genus are still in debate, but there may be at least 23 species. Males and females engage in seasonal pair bonding and are most often found in pairs on reefs. During courtship, the male and female "dance" around one another above the substrate. The female lays her eggs in a sheet, which she then presses against the underside of the male. The male will then grow skin over the eggs to form a brood pouch. Small pipefish hatch out of the eggs within a few weeks.

Species

There are currently 12 recognized species in this genus: * ''

Corythoichthys amplexus ''Corythoichthys amplexus'', known commonly as the brown-banded pipefish, is a species of marine fish in the family Syngnathidae.Lieske & Myers,''Coral reef fishes'',Princeton University Press, 2009, Description Anatomy The brown-banded pipefis ...

'' C. E. Dawson & J. E. Randall, 1975 (Brown-banded pipefish) * ''

Corythoichthys benedetto ''Corythoichthys benedetto'', commonly known as Benedetto's pipefish, is a species of marine fish of the family Syngnathidae. It inhabits the Indo-West Pacific, near Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. It is found on al ...

'' G. R. Allen & Erdmann, 2008 (Benedotto's pipefish) * ''

Corythoichthys conspicillatus ''Corythoichthys conspicillatus'', the reticulate pipefish, is a species of pipefish from the family Syngnathidae. Taxonomy This species is often confused with ''Corythoichthys flavofasciatus'' and the two were considered conspecific by some aut ...

'' ( Jenyns, 1842) (Reticulate pipefish) * ''

Corythoichthys flavofasciatus ''Corythoichthys flavofasciatus'', known commonly as the network pipefish, reticulate pipefish and yellow-banded pipefish, is a species of marine fish in the family Syngnathidae. Distribution and habitat This species can be found from the Red ...

'' ( Rüppell, 1838) (Network pipefish) Corythoichthys flavofasciatus Réunion

* ''

Corythoichthys haematopterus The messmate pipefish (''Corythoichthys haematopterus'') is a species of marine fish in the family Syngnathidae. It is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region, from the eastern coast of Africa to the Vanuatu Islands. ...

'' (

Bleeker Bleeker is a Dutch occupational surname. Bleeker is an old spelling of ''(linnen)bleker'' ("linen bleacher").Corythoichthys insularis ''Corythoichthys insularis'' is a species of marine fish in the family Syngnathidae. It is found in the western Indian Ocean, from the Amirante and Comoros islands to the Maldives. It inhabits coral and rocky reefs at depths of , where it can gro ...

'' C. E. Dawson, 1977 * ''

Corythoichthys intestinalis ''Corythoichthys intestinalis'', known commonly as the scribbled pipefish, is a species of marine fish in the family Syngnathidae.Lieske & Myers,''Coral reef fishes'',Princeton University Press, 2009, Other common names used include banded pipef ...

'' ( E. P. Ramsay, 1881) (Scribbled pipefish) * '' Corythoichthys nigripectus''

Herald A herald, or a herald of arms, is an officer of arms, ranking between pursuivant and king of arms. The title is commonly applied more broadly to all officers of arms. Heralds were originally messengers sent by monarchs or noblemen to ...

, 1953 (Black-breasted pipefish) * ''

Corythoichthys ocellatus ''Corythoichthys ocellatus'', the ocellated pipefish or orange-spotted pipefish, is a marine pipefish found in the western Pacific Ocean. Belonging to the family Syngnathidae, it grows up to 10 cm long, and is found in the first 12 m of the ...

, 1953 (Ocellated pipefish) * ''

Corythoichthys paxtoni ''Corythoichthys paxtoni'', commonly known as Paxton's pipefish, is a species of marine fish of the family Syngnathidae. It is endemic to the Coral Sea, being found in the Great Barrier Reef, the Chesterfield Islands, and New Caledonia. It inhab ...

'' C. E. Dawson, 1977 (Paxton's pipefish) * ''

Corythoichthys polynotatus ''Corythoichthys amplexus'', known commonly as the many-spotted pipefish or yellow-spotted pipefish , is a species of marine fish in the family Syngnathidae. The many-spotted pipefish is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the central ...

'' C. E. Dawson, 1977 (Many-spotted pipefish) * ''

Corythoichthys schultzi Schultz's pipefish, ''Corythoichthys schultzi'', is a pipefish of the family Syngnathidae. Etymology The genus name Corythoichthys derives from the Greek words ''coris'' meaning "helmet" and ''ichthus'' meaning "fish". The specific name ''sch ...

, 1953 (Schultz's pipefish) * ''

Corythoichthys waitei Waite's pipefish (''Corythoichthys waitei'') is a species of Indo-Pacific pipefish from the family Syngnathidae which is found from the Philippines east to Samoa, south to Papua New Guinea. It was previously considered to be a synonym of ''Corytho ...

Jordan Jordan ( ar, الأردن; tr. ' ), officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,; tr. ' is a country in Western Asia. It is situated at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe, within the Levant region, on the East Bank of the Jordan Rive ...

& Seale, 1906 ( Waite's pipefish)

References

* Kuiter, Rudie H. 2000. Seahorses, pipefishes, and the relatives. Chorleywood, UK: TMC Publishing. 240 p. Marine fish genera Taxa named by Johann Jakob Kaup {{Syngnathiformes-stub