Halimeda Ghostpipefish

Solenostomus halimeda

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Syngnathiformes
Family: Solenostomidae
Genus: Solenostomus
Species: Solenostomus halimeda

The Halimeda ghostpipefish (Solenostomus halimeda) is a small ghostpipefish that mimics Halimeda algae, with a green to brownish body covered in pale, plate-like spots that look like the algae's segments.

It grows to about 6 cm and hides among Halimeda algae, hovering in place and swaying with the surge. It feeds on tiny crustaceans, and the female carries the eggs in a pouch formed by her pelvic fins.

The Halimeda ghostpipefish is found in the Indo-West Pacific, including the Philippines, where it is a rare and prized find. It is a smaller relative of the robust ghostpipefish.