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Knife-snouted Pipefish

Hypselognathus rostratus

  • Fish
  • IUCN: Least concern
  • Usual depth1–4 m
  • Water temperature15–18 °C
  • Best monthsOctober and November
  • How commonRare
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About this species

Hypselognathus rostratus, also known as the knife-snouted pipefish, is a species of marine fish belonging to the family Syngnathidae. This species can be found in very shallow coastal waters of southeastern Australia. Their habitat consists of sandy substrates, seagrass beds, and estuaries. Reproduction occurs through ovoviviparity in which the males brood eggs before giving live birth.

Text from the Wikipedia article “Hypselognathus rostratus”, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Read the article

Where and when

Where it has been recorded

Worldwide

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Best months

Worldwide (open data)

  • January: 7 records
  • February: 6 records
  • March: 3 records
  • April: 1 records
  • May: 2 records
  • June: 0 records
  • July: 2 records
  • August: 6 records
  • September: 17 records
  • October: 34 records
  • November: 31 records
  • December: 12 records

Depth and water temperature

Depth

Mostly recorded at 1–4 m · Deepest record: 6.5 m

  • 0–10 m: 26 records

Water temperature

Recorded in surface water of 15–18 °C

  • 14–16 °C: 96 records
  • 16–18 °C: 13 records

Names and classification

English
Knife-snouted Pipefish, Knife-snout Pipefish, Knifesnout Pipefish
Names in 1 more languages
Simplified Chinese
管吻海龍, 管吻海龙

Other scientific names: Histiogamphelus rostratus

Similar species

Sources and credits

Names and taxonomy: WoRMS (CC BY 4.0) and the GBIF Backbone (CC BY 4.0). Photos: iNaturalist observers, each under the licence shown (CC0, CC BY or CC BY-SA).

  • Depth, temperature, months and maps: records from OBIS and GBIF under CC0 or CC BY.
  • Descriptions: Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA, each linked to its article.
  • Conservation status as published by GBIF (IUCN Red List).
  • 122 open-data records from 1920 to 2015.
  • Species data updated November 3, 2026.

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