Investigator Pipefish

Description: Characterized by brownish red color with about 12 diffuse greyish bars and about 20 white spots along edge of inferior trunk ridge; 10 caudal rings; rings 15 + 31 - 35; discontinuous superior trunk and tail ridges; straight lateral trunk ridge, ends near anal ring; continuous inferior trunk and tail ridge; entire median dorsal snout ridge elevated posteriorly; length of snout 2.5-3.1 in head length; depth of snout 2.0-3.0 in snout length; head length 7.9-10.4 in SL (Ref. 90102).

Male carries the eggs in a brood pouch (Ref. 205).

Dorsal soft rays (total): 19 - 24; Analsoft rays: 2 - 4

Some specimens have been taken in surface tow nets and with nightlight and dipnets; others taken in a dredge sample (Ref. 5316). Ovoviviparous (Ref. 205). The male carries the eggs in a brood pouch which is found under the tail (Ref. 205). Found in sand, mud and coral bottoms in 2-45 m (Ref 90102).

Cosmocampus investigatoris (investigator pipefish) is a species of marine fish of the family Syngnathidae. It is found in the Indo-West Pacific, from the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Thailand. It lives over sand, mud, and coral bottoms to depths of 15m, where it can grow to lengths of 9 cm. This species is ovoviviparous, with males carrying eggs in a brood pouch until giving birth to live young.