Ghost pipefish are an unusually camouflaged family of fish that appear to mimic the crinoids or featherstars in which they often make their home.
There are five known species in a single genus, Solenostomus, and they occur from Asia to Africa in tropical areas of the Indian Ocean and the western Pacific up to Japan, inhabiting the open water except during the breeding season.
Typically, these fish float almost motionlessly with their heads pointing downwards against a matching background, such as crinoids, gorgonian fans, or branching black coral bushes.
You can see how the fish hang in the water in this video. They use their long snouts to suck in tiny crustaceans like shrimp living on the substrate or seabed.
The fish move to a coral reef or muddy bottom to breed. There, they change color to make themselves less visible to predators.
Unlike seahorses, the female broods the eggs in a pouch formed from her enlarged pelvic fins until they hatch.
Matthew Oldfield is a freelance photographer based in Bali, Indonesia, specializing in editorial and documentary images from both above and below the waves. He works primarily with charities, NGO’s, and other organizations working to conserve the environment, endangered species, and disappearing cultures.
|
Please send feedback to [email protected] |
