{{Short description|Species of fish}} {{Speciesbox | name = Banded pipefish | image = Pez pipa bandeado (Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus), Anilao, Filipinas, 2023-08-24, DD 187.jpg | status = DD | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn | author = Pollom, R. | year = 2016 | title = ''Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus'' |errata=2017 | volume = 2016 | article-number = e.T6814A115083653 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T6814A67621462.en }}</ref> | taxon = Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus | authority = (Bleeker, 1853) | synonyms = *''Syngnathus dactyliophorus'' <small>Bleeker, 1853</small> *''Doryrhamphus dactyliophorus'' <small>(Bleeker, 1853)</small> *''Acanthognathus caulleryi'' <small>Chabanaud, 1929</small> | synonyms_ref = <ref name = FishBase/> }}

The '''banded pipefish''' or '''ringed pipefish''' (''Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus'') is a species of fish in the Syngnathidae (seahorses and pipefish) family.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fish.gov.au/fishnames/fishnames.php?pid=1675|title=Fish.gov.au|access-date=10 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080722031333/http://www.fish.gov.au/fishnames/fishnames.php?pid=1675|archive-date=22 July 2008}}</ref><ref name=FishBase>{{FishBase |genus=Dunckerocampus |species=dactyliophorus |month=October |year=2015}}</ref>

==Distribution and habitat== The banded pipefish is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region, Red Sea included.<ref name=FishBase/> Its range includes Australia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Indonesia, Japan, the Marshall Islands, New Caledonia, Northern Mariana Islands, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, South Africa, and Taiwan.<ref name=IUCN/> It inhabits tide pools, lagoons, and outer reef slopes in tropical climates.<ref name=FishBase/>

==Description== The banded pipefish has a straight, elongated body which reaches a maximum length of 19&nbsp;cm (7.4&nbsp;in).<ref name=FishBase/> It has fleshy streams coming back from its head. These trails are thought to be mechanisms of camouflage for the pipefish whilst hiding in reeds.<ref>{{cite book|author=Günter Berghaus|title=New Perspectives on Prehistoric Art|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3mR3MghMo9UC&pg=PA42|year=2004|publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group|isbn=978-0-275-97813-6|page=42}}</ref>

<gallery> Pez pipa bandeado (Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus), Anilao, Filipinas, 2023-08-21, DD 203.jpg|Banded pipefish Peces pipa bandeado (Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus), Anilao, Filipinas, 2023-08-21, DD 204.jpg|Banded pipefish Banded Pipefish skeleton.jpg|Skeleton of a banded pipefish (Museum of Osteology) </gallery>

==Reproduction== Similar to the other seahorses and pipefishes, the male banded pipefish is equipped with a specialised brood pouch, rather than the female.<ref>{{cite book|title=Encyclopedia of the Aquatic World|url=https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofaq04mars|url-access=registration|editor=Marshall Cavendish Corporation|year=2004|publisher=Marshall Cavendish|isbn=978-0-7614-7418-0}}</ref> The female deposits her eggs in the male's pouch, where they develop. The male later gives birth.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Saltwater Aquarium Handbook|last1=Blasiola|first1=George C.|author2=Matthew M. Vriends|publisher=Barron's Educational Series|year=2000|isbn=978-0-7641-1241-6|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/saltwateraquariu00geor}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist|2}}

==External links== *http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p=taxdetails&id=218005 *http://doris.ffessm.fr/fiche2.asp?fiche_numero=2319 *[http://fishesofaustralia.net.au/home/species/3178 Fishes of Australia : ''Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus''] * {{sealifephotos|218005}}

{{Portal|Fish|marine biology|marine life}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q304699}}

banded pipefish banded pipefish Category:Taxa named by Pieter Bleeker Category:Taxonomy articles created by Polbot