Solenostomus paradoxus (Pallas, 1770)
Ornate ghostpipefish, 12cm

At this time, only one Solenostomus paradoxus has been found in Kwajalein Atoll. It was in a seaward reef channel near Halimeda algae at a depth of about 10m on 10 October 2010. This species is reported to normally be near crinoids or gorgonians, but we have looked at many of both and had not previously encountered a specimen. These and other ghost pipes are reported to spend a long time and reach nearly full size while drifting as plankton in the open ocean, where they are presumably mostly transparent. They settle to reefs primarily to breed. This specimen was about 60mm in length.

Created 15 October 2010

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