Banded Pipefish

Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Syngnathiformes
Family: Syngnathidae
Genus: Dunckerocampus
Species: Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus

The banded or ringed pipefish (Dunckerocampus dactyliophorus) is a red-and-white ringed pipefish with a flag-like tail. Its red tail fin has a white edge and centre spot.

It grows to about 19 cm and often cleans parasites from larger fish. As in all pipefish, the male carries the eggs on his belly.

In the Philippines it is found in caves, crevices and under overhangs on reefs, often near cleaner shrimps.