• Pegasus Linnaeus, C. 1758. Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundem classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentis, synonymis, locis. Editio decima, reformata. Holmiae : Laurentii Salvii Vol. 1 10 Edn., 824 pp. [338].

  Type species:

   Pegasus volitans Linnaeus, 1758 by monotypy.
• Acanthopegasus McCulloch, A.R. 1915. Report on some fishes obtained by the F.I.S. Endeavour on the coasts of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South and South-Western Australia. Part 3. Biological Results of the Fishing Experiments carried on by the F.I.S. Endeavour 1909-1914 3(3): 97-170 figs 1-3 pls 13-37 [106].

  Type species:

   Pegasus lancifer Kaup, 1915 by original designation.
• Parapegasus Duméril, A.H.A. 1870. Histoire Naturelle des Poissons, ou Ichthyologie Générale. Ganoides, Dipnés, Lophobranches. Paris : Librairie Encyclopédique de Roret Vol. 2 624 pp. [492] (ex Bleeker).

  Type species:

   Pegasus natans Linnaeus, 1766 by subsequent designation, see Jordan, D.S. 1919. The genera of fishes. Part 3. Stanford University Publications, University Series 39: 285-410 [357].

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Palsson, W.A. & Pietsch, T.W. 1989. Revision of the acanthopterygian fish family Pegasidae (Order Gasterosteiformes). Indo-Pacific Fishes 18: 1-38 [18]

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Indo-west Pacific.

IMCRA

Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Central Western Shelf Transition (28), Central Western Shelf Province (29), Southwest Shelf Transition (30), Southwest Shelf Province (31), Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Other Regions

Torres Strait Islands terrestrial, marine & freshwater

General References

Kuiter, R.H. 2009. Seahorses and their relatives. Seaford, Australia : Aquatic Photographics pp. 331.

Osterhage, D., Pogonoski, J.J., Appleyard, S.A. & White, W.T. 2016. Integrated taxonomy reveals hidden diversity in northern Australian fishes: a new species of seamoth (genus Pegasus). PLoS ONE (Public Library of Science) 11(3): e0149415

Palsson, W.A. & Pietsch, T.W. 1989. Revision of the acanthopterygian fish family Pegasidae (Order Gasterosteiformes). Indo-Pacific Fishes 18: 1-38

History of changes

• Pegasus lancifer Kaup, J.J. 1861. Eine neue Art des Genus Pegasus Linn. Archiv für Naturgeschichte 27(1): 116-117 [117] [as Pegassus lancifer].

  Type data:

   Holotype MNHP 0000-9224, southern Australia or TAS (erroneously as Java in original).

  Type locality references:

  McCulloch, A.R. 1915. Report on some fishes obtained by the F.I.S. Endeavour on the coasts of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South and South-Western Australia. Part 3. Biological Results of the Fishing Experiments carried on by the F.I.S. Endeavour 1909-1914 3(3): 97-170 figs 1-3 pls 13-37 [107].

Generic Combinations

• Acanthopegasus lancifer (Kaup, 1861). —
  McCulloch, A.R. 1915. Report on some fishes obtained by the F.I.S. Endeavour on the coasts of Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, South and South-Western Australia. Part 3. Biological Results of the Fishing Experiments carried on by the F.I.S. Endeavour 1909-1914 3(3): 97-170 figs 1-3 pls 13-37 [106] (changed combination as type of genus Acanthopegasus)

Miscellaneous Literature Names

• Pegassus lancifer Kaup, 1861 [genus name in species description was misspelled]. —
  Kaup, J.J. 1861. Eine neue Art des Genus Pegasus Linn. Archiv für Naturgeschichte 27(1): 116-117 [117]

Distribution

States

New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Disaster Bay, NSW (37°17´S, 149°58'E) to off Ceduna, Great Australian Bight, SA (32°26'S, 133°29'E) and King George Sound (35°02'S, 117°52'E) to Rottnest Island (32°00´S, 11530'E) WA, and throughout marine TAS; temperate.

Australian Endemic.

IMCRA

Southwest Shelf Province (31), Great Australian Bight Shelf Transition (32), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37)

Ecological Descriptors

Benthic, continental shelf, inshore, mud bottom–marine, sand bottom marine, seagrass.

Extra Ecological Information

Intertidal-55m

General References

Edgar, G.J. 2008. Australian Marine Life: the plants and animals of temperate waters. Sydney : Reed New Holland 2nd edn, 624 pp. [485]

Glover, C.J.M. 1994. Family Pegasidae. pp. 475-476 fig. 427 in Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs. [476]

Hutchins, J.B. 2001. Checklist of the fishes of Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 63: 9-50 [29]

Hutchins, J.B. & Swainston, R. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete field guide for anglers and divers. Perth : Swainston Publishing 180 pp. [46] (as Acanthopegasus lancifer)

Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 437 pp. [99]

Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. A comprehensive reference for divers and fishermen. Sydney, NSW, Australia : New Holland Publishers xvii, 434 pp. [71]

Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Seahorses, Pipefishes and Their Relatives. Chorleywood, UK : TMC Publishing 240 pp. [224]

Kuiter, R.H. 2009. Seahorses and their relatives. Seaford, Australia : Aquatic Photographics pp. 331. [318]

McCulloch, A.R. 1929. A check-list of the fishes recorded from Australia. Part I. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 5: 1–144 [98] (as Acanthopegasus lancifer)

Munro, I.S.R. 1961. Handbook of Australian fishes. Nos 1–42. Australian Fisheries Newsletter 15–17, 19, 20: 1-172 [published as separates 1956–1961] [96] (660, as Acanthopegasus lancifer)

Orr, J.W. & Pietsch, T.W. 1994. Pipefishes and their allies. pp. 168-172 in Paxton, J.R. & Eschmeyer, W.N. Encyclopedia of Fishes. Sydney : University of New South Wales Press 240 pp.

Palsson, W.A. & Pietsch, T.W. 1989. Revision of the acanthopterygian fish family Pegasidae (Order Gasterosteiformes). Indo-Pacific Fishes 18: 1-38 [30]

Paxton, J.R., Gates, J.E., Bray, D.J. & Hoese, D.F. 2006. Pegasidae. pp. 805-806 in Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & Allen, G.R. Fishes. In, Beesley, P.L. & Wells, A. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 35. Volume 35 Australia : ABRS & CSIRO Publishing Parts 1-3, 2178 pp. [806]

Paxton, J.R., Hoese, D.F., Allen, G.R. & Hanley, J.E. (eds) 1989. Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Pisces: Petromyzontidae to Carangidae. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service Vol. 7 665 pp. [434]

Pietsch, T.W. 2008. Pegasidae. 485 in Gomon, M.F., Bray, D.J. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds). Fishes of Australia's Southern Coast. Sydney : Reed New Holland 928 pp. [485]

Pognoski, J.J., Pollard, D.A. & Paxton, J.R. 2002. Conservation Overview and Action Plan for Australian Threatened and Potentially Threatened Marine and Estuarine Fishes. Canberra : Environment Australia 375 pp.

Reader, S.E., Leis, J.M. & Rennis, D.S. 2000. Pegasidae (Sea Moths). pp. 210-212 in Leis, J.M. & Carson-Ewart, B.M. The larvae of Indo-Pacific coastal fishes. An identification guide to marine fish larvae. Fauna Malesiana Handbooks Leiden : Brill Vol. 2 870 pp. [210]

Vincent, A. 1996. Pegasus lancifer. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2011.1. www.iucnredlist.org

Whitley, G.P. 1964. A survey of Australian Ichthyology. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 89(1): 11-127 [38] (552, as Acanthopegasus lancifer)

Common Name References

Edgar, G.J., Last, P.R. & Wells, M.W. 1982. Coastal Fishes of Tasmania and Bass Strait. Hobart : Cat & Fiddle Press 175 pp. [62] (Sea Moth)

Gomon, M.F., Glover, C.J.M. & Kuiter, R.H. (eds) 1994. The Fishes of Australia's South Coast. Adelaide : State Printer 992 pp. 810 figs. [476] (Dragonfish, Sculptured Dragonfish, Seamoth)

Munro, I.S.R. 1961. Handbook of Australian fishes. Nos 1–42. Australian Fisheries Newsletter 15–17, 19, 20: 1-172 [published as separates 1956–1961] [96] (Sculptured Dragon-fish)

Seafood Services Australia 2008. Australian Fish Names Standard. http://www.fishnames.com.au/. (Hutchins, J.B. & Swainston, R. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete field guide for anglers and divers. Perth : Swainston Publishing pp. 180. [127]) (Sculptured Seamoth)

History of changes

• Pegasus tetrabelos Osterhage, D., Pogonoski, J.J., Appleyard, S.A. & White, W.T. 2016. Integrated taxonomy reveals hidden diversity in northern Australian fishes: a new species of seamoth (genus Pegasus). PLoS ONE (Public Library of Science) 11(3): e0149415 [7 of 26].

  Type data:

   Holotype CSIRO H 6553–03 ♀, 24m depth, northeast of Dungeness Island, Torres Strait, Australia [09°46’9” S, 143°09’19” E].
  Paratype(s) AM IA. 6761; AM I.20771–097; I.34375–001; CSIRO H 6520–02; H 6543–03; H 6547–02; H 6555–02; H 6667–03; H 6688–02; H 6738–06; H 6793–02; H 6795–03; H 6912–06; CSIRO H 6914–04; H 6918–04; H 7090–02; H 7491–03; H 7502–03; H 7660–03; H 7665–01; H 7666–01; H 7667–01; H 7668–01; CSIRO H 7673–02; H 7674–01; H 7675–01 ; H 7675–02 ; H 7676–01 ; H 7676–02 ; H 7676–03; H 7677–01; H 7678–01; H 7678–02; H 7679–01; CSIRO H 7683–01; H 7684–01; H 7685–01; H 7686–01; H 7687–01; H 7688–01; H 7689–01; H 7690–01; H 7691–01; NRMS 66669; NTM S.13283–003; S.13284–003; S.10604–008; QM I.36040; I.36186; WAM P.29139–002; P.34325–001; USNM 434842.

Distribution

States

Northern Territory, Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

Fog Bay (12°50'S, 130°10'E) to east of Croker Island (11°00'S, 132°49'E), NT, and west of Badu Island, Torres Strait (10°03'S, 141°37'E) to northeast of Shoalwater Bay (21°55'S, 150°02'E), QLD, not currently recorded from Gulf of Carpentaria; tropical

IMCRA

Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Other Regions

Torres Strait Islands terrestrial, marine & freshwater

Distribution References

Ecological Descriptors

Acacia shrubs, benthic, sand bottom marine.

Extra Ecological Information

Trawled in 8–45 m

Common Name References

Osterhage, D., Pogonoski, J.J., Appleyard, S.A. & White, W.T. 2016. Integrated taxonomy reveals hidden diversity in northern Australian fishes: a new species of seamoth (genus Pegasus). PLoS ONE (Public Library of Science) 11(3): e0149415 [19] (Short-spined Seamoth)

History of changes

• Pegasus volitans Linnaeus, C. 1758. Systema naturae per regna tria naturae, secundem classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentis, synonymis, locis. Editio decima, reformata. Holmiae : Laurentii Salvii Vol. 1 10 Edn., 824 pp. [338].

  Type data:

   
  Syntype(s) NHRM 30, India, Ambon, Indonesia; ZMUC P8430, India, Ambon, Indonesia.

  Type locality references:

  Wheeler, A. 1989. Further notes on the fishes from the collection of Laurens Theodore Gronovius (1730-1777). Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 95: 205-218 [216].
• Pegasus natans Linnaeus, C. 1766. Systema Naturae per Regna Tria Naturae, secundum classes, ordines, genera, species, cum characteribus, differentiis, synonymis, locis. Holmiae [=Stockholm] : Laurentii Salvii, Tomus I. Regnum Animale(1) Editio duodecima, reformata [3 vols., 1766-68], 532 pp. [418] [after vernacular listing in Gronovius, L.T. 1763. Zoophylacium Gronovarium, exhibens animalia Quadrupeda, Amphibia atque Pisces, quae in museo suo adservavit. Lugduno-Batavia : T. Haak Vol. 1., p. 115].

  Type data:

   Status unknown, whereabouts unknown (based Gronow 1763), Indonesia (as In Indis).

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Palsson, W.A. & Pietsch, T.W. 1989. Revision of the acanthopterygian fish family Pegasidae (Order Gasterosteiformes). Indo-Pacific Fishes 18: 1-38 [25]

Generic Combinations

• Parapegasus natans (Linnaeus, 1766). —
  Duméril, A.H.A. 1870. Histoire Naturelle des Poissons, ou Ichthyologie Générale. Ganoides, Dipnés, Lophobranches. Paris : Librairie Encyclopédique de Roret Vol. 2 624 pp. [493] (changed combination)
  McCulloch, A.R. 1929. A check-list of the fishes recorded from Australia. Part I. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 5: 1–144 [98]

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Northern Territory, Queensland, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Mandurah, WA (32º53´S) to Shellharbour, NSW (34º35´S); tropical, Indo-west Pacific.

IMCRA

Northern Shelf Province (25), Northwest Shelf Transition (26), Northwest Shelf Province (27), Central Western Shelf Transition (28), Central Western Shelf Province (29), Southwest Shelf Transition (30), Southwest Shelf Province (31), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northeast Shelf Province (40), Northeast Shelf Transition (41)

Distribution References

Ecological Descriptors

Benthic, continental shelf, estuary, inshore, sand bottom marine, silt bottom–marine.

Extra Ecological Information

1-75m

General References

Allen, G.R. 1997. Marine Fishes of Tropical Australia and South-east Asia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 292 pp. 106 pls. [70]

Allen, G.R. & Erdmann, M.V. 2012. Reef fishes of the East Indies. Perth : Tropical Reef Research 3 vols, 1260 pp. [180]

Allen, G.R. & Swainston, R. 1988. The Marine Fishes of North-Western Australia. A field guide for anglers and divers. Perth, WA : Western Australian Museum vi 201 pp., 70 pls. [44]

Edgar, G.J. 2008. Australian Marine Life: the plants and animals of temperate waters. Sydney : Reed New Holland 2nd edn, 624 pp. [485]

Grant, E.M. 2002. Guide to Fishes. Redcliffe : EM Grant Pty Ltd 880 pp. [199]

Hutchins, J.B. 2001. Checklist of the fishes of Western Australia. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supplement 63: 9-50 [29]

Hutchins, J.B. & Swainston, R. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete field guide for anglers and divers. Perth : Swainston Publishing 180 pp. [46] (as Parapegasus natans)

Hutchins, J.B. & Thompson, M. 1983. The Marine and Estuarine Fishes of South-western Australia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 103 pp. 345 figs. [26] (as Parapegasus natans)

Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 437 pp. [99]

Kuiter, R.H. 1996. Guide to Sea Fishes of Australia. A comprehensive reference for divers and fishermen. Sydney, NSW, Australia : New Holland Publishers xvii, 434 pp. [68]

Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Seahorses, Pipefishes and Their Relatives. Chorleywood, UK : TMC Publishing 240 pp. [223]

Kuiter, R.H. 2009. Seahorses and their relatives. Seaford, Australia : Aquatic Photographics pp. 331. [319]

Lourie, S.A., Vincent, A.C.J. & Hall, H.J. 1999. Seahorses. An identification guide to the world's species and their conservation. Project Seahorse. x 214 pp.

McCulloch, A.R. 1929. A check-list of the fishes recorded from Australia. Part I. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 5: 1–144 [98] (in part; also as Parapegasus natans)

Munro, I.S.R. 1961. Handbook of Australian fishes. Nos 1–42. Australian Fisheries Newsletter 15–17, 19, 20: 1-172 [published as separates 1956–1961] [95] (659, as Parapegasus natans)

Orr, J.W. & Pietsch, T.W. 1994. Pipefishes and their allies. pp. 168-172 in Paxton, J.R. & Eschmeyer, W.N. Encyclopedia of Fishes. Sydney : University of New South Wales Press 240 pp.

Palsson, W.A. & Pietsch, T.W. 1989. Revision of the acanthopterygian fish family Pegasidae (Order Gasterosteiformes). Indo-Pacific Fishes 18: 1-38 [25]

Paxton, J.R., Gates, J.E., Bray, D.J. & Hoese, D.F. 2006. Pegasidae. pp. 805-806 in Hoese, D.F., Bray, D.J., Paxton, J.R. & Allen, G.R. Fishes. In, Beesley, P.L. & Wells, A. (eds) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Vol. 35. Volume 35 Australia : ABRS & CSIRO Publishing Parts 1-3, 2178 pp. [806]

Paxton, J.R., Hoese, D.F., Allen, G.R. & Hanley, J.E. (eds) 1989. Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Pisces: Petromyzontidae to Carangidae. Canberra : Australian Government Publishing Service Vol. 7 665 pp. [434]

Pietsch, T.W. & Palsson, W.A. 1999. Family Pegasidae. 2262 in Carpenter, K.E. & Niem, T.H. (eds). The Living Marine Resources of the Western Central Pacific. FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes. Rome : FAO Vol. 4 pp. 2069-2790. [2262]

Pognoski, J.J., Pollard, D.A. & Paxton, J.R. 2002. Conservation Overview and Action Plan for Australian Threatened and Potentially Threatened Marine and Estuarine Fishes. Canberra : Environment Australia 375 pp.

Reader, S.E. & Neira, F.J. 1998. Pegasidae: Seamoths. pp. 117-121 in Neira, F.J., Miskiewicz, A.G. & Trnski, T. Larvae of temperate Australian fishes: laboratory guide for larval fish identification. Nedlands, Western Australia : University of Western Australia press 474 pp. [120]

Smith, M.M. & Heemstra, P.C. (eds) 1986. Smith's Sea Fishes. Johannesburg : Macmillan South Africa xx + 1047 pp. 144 pls. [443]

Sorensen, M. & Vincent, A. 2009. Pegasus volitans. In: IUCN 2011. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2011.1.. www.iucnredlist.org

Whitley, G.P. 1964. A survey of Australian Ichthyology. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 89(1): 11-127 [38] (550)

Common Name References

Grant, E.M. 1975. Guide to Fishes. Brisbane : Queensland Government, Co-ordinator General’s Department 640 pp. [136] (Long-tailed Dragon-fish)

Grant, E.M. 2002. Guide to Fishes. Redcliffe : EM Grant Pty Ltd 880 pp. [199] (Long-tailed Dragonfish)

Hutchins, J.B. & Swainston, R. 1986. Sea Fishes of Southern Australia. Complete field guide for anglers and divers. Perth : Swainston Publishing 180 pp. [127] (Slender Seamoth)

Hutchins, J.B. & Thompson, M. 1983. The Marine and Estuarine Fishes of South-western Australia. Perth : Western Australian Museum 103 pp. 345 figs. [78] (Sea Moth)

Munro, I.S.R. 1961. Handbook of Australian fishes. Nos 1–42. Australian Fisheries Newsletter 15–17, 19, 20: 1-172 [published as separates 1956–1961] [95] (Pelagic Dragon-fish)

Seafood Services Australia 2008. Australian Fish Names Standard. http://www.fishnames.com.au/. (Slender Seamoth)

History of changes