Revision of the Ghost Pipefishes, Family Solenostomidae (Teleostei: Syngnathoidei)

Abstract

The syngnathoid family Solenostomidae is revised on the basis of an examination of known material, including extant type specimens. Diagnoses and descriptions are given for each species; distributions are plotted, a key to species is provided, and a phylogenetic hypothesis is presented. Only adult specimens can be adequately diagnosed. A single genus and three species are recognized: Solenostomus paradoxus (Pallas), S. cyanopterus Bleeker, and S. armatus Weber. Solenostomus cyanopterus differs from all other solenostomids by having a relatively deep snout; a deep, short caudal peduncle, with a mode of eight caudalpeduncle plates; an absence of abdominal spinules; and males with premaxillary spines. It is distributed from South Africa and the Red Sea, to the Maldives, Indonesia, southern Japan, Guam, New Guinea, Australia, and Fiji Island. Solenostomus paradoxus differs from its congeners by the presence of numerous abdominal spinules, the presence of fourth and fifth plates at the dorsal- and anal-fin bases, and males with nasal lamellae completely filling the nasal cavity. It is found off the east coast of Africa, the Red Sea, the Maldives, Indonesia, southern Japan, the Marshall Islands, New Guinea, and the east coast of Australia. Solenostomus armatus is diagnosed by having convergent epioccipital ridges, a posterodorsally directed spine on the supraoccipital ridge, and females with seven prominent nasal lamellae forming a circular pattern within the nasal cavity. It is known from the Arafura Sea, Indonesia, and southern Japan. F OUND only in the Indian and Pacific oceans, the three species that comprise the syngnathoid family Solenostomidae inhabit shallow tropical waters associated with rocky and coralline reefs and vegetation. Solenostomids have been hypothesized to be the sister group of the