Redstripe pipefish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Redstripe pipefish |
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The redstripe pipefish (Dunckerocampus baldwini) is a unique fish. It belongs to a group of fish called pipefish. This fish is known for its bright red stripes.
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About the Redstripe Pipefish
The redstripe pipefish lives in warm ocean waters. You can find it near coral reefs. It likes to hide in caves and rocky cracks. This fish is a special kind of helper. It is an active cleaner fish. This means it helps other fish by eating tiny bugs. These bugs are called parasites. The pipefish cleans them off bigger fish. It has been seen cleaning cave cardinal fish. It also cleans moray eels. Sometimes, it hangs out with iridescent cardinalfish. It also associates with Hawaiian squirrelfish.
Size and Appearance
Redstripe pipefish are not very big. They can grow up to about 15 centimeters (6 inches) long. That's about the length of a pencil. They have a long, thin body. Their bodies are covered in bright red stripes. These stripes run along their sides.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Redstripe pipefish have a special way of having babies. They are an ovoviviparous species. This means the eggs hatch inside the mother's body. But with pipefish, the male fish carries the eggs! The male has a special pouch under his body. He keeps the fertilized eggs safe in this pouch. After the eggs hatch, he gives birth to live, tiny pipefish. A male pipefish can carry up to 200 babies at once. Males start carrying eggs when they are about 10.7 centimeters (4.2 inches) long.
Where They Live
The redstripe pipefish was first found in Hawaii. For a long time, people thought it only lived there. But now, it has been seen in other places too. It has been found in West Papua. This area is part of Indonesia. It has also been seen near Christmas Island. There are two islands called Christmas Island. One is in the Indian Ocean. The other is Kiritimati, sometimes called Christmas Island, in Kiribati. Scientists are still figuring out which island it was seen near.
