Species Hippocampus whitei Bleeker, 1855

Museums

Regional Maps

External Links

• Hippocampus whitei Bleeker, P. 1855. Over eenige visschen van Van Diemensland. Verhandelingen der Koninklijke Akademie van Wetenschappen [Verh. Akad. Amsterdam] 2: 1-31 fig. 1 [17] [as Hippocampus Whitei; based on fig. 2, plate opposite p. 264 in White, J. 1790. Journal of a Voyage to New South Wales with sixty-five plates of non-descript animals, birds, lizards, serpents, curious cones of trees and other natural productions. London : Debrett 299 pp. 65 pls].

  Type data:

   Neotype AM I.40831-018 (original locality Sydney), Sydney, Harbour, NSW.

  Subsequent designation references:

  Lourie, S.A., Pollom, R.A. & Foster, S.J. 2016. A global revision of the Seahorses Hippocampus Rafinesque 1810 (Actinopterygii: Syngnathiformes): Taxonomy and biogeography with recommendations for further research. Zootaxa 4146(1): 1–66 [43].
• Hippocampus novaehollandiae Steindachner, F. 1866. Zur Fischfauna von Port Jackson in Australien. Sitzungsberichte der Akademie der Wissenschaften in Wien. Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Klasse 53(1): 424-480 figs 1-7 [474(51), pl. 1 (fig.2a-b)] [as Hippocampus novae Hollandiae].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) NHMW 59312, Port Jackson, NSW.
• Hippocampus procerus Kuiter, R.H. 2001. Revision of the Australian Seahorses of the genus Hippocampus (Syngnathiformes: Syngnathidae) with descriptions of nine new species. Records of the Australian Museum 53: 293-340 [328, fig. 40].

  Type data:

   Holotype AM E.2914, Fairway Buoy, Hervey Bay, QLD [24°S 152°E].
  Paratype(s) QM I.2208 (juvenile), Norman River, Gulf of Carpentaria, QLD; QM I.8792 (male), off Redcliffe, SE QLD, N. Phillips; QM I.11000 (7), Moreton Bay, QLD; QM I.13012 (male), off Redcliffe, SE QLD, 5 fathoms; QM I.29963 (female), Newport Canal mouth, Deception Bay, Moreton Bay, QLD [27°12'S 153°06'E]; QM I.30772 (male and female), off Chain Banks, Moreton Bay, 3-7m; AM I.492 (female), Moreton Bay, QLD [27°25'S 153°20'E]; AM I.12554 (male), Moreton Bay, QLD [27°00'S 153°00'E]; AM IA.4205 (juvenile), Port Curtis, QLD [23°55'S 151°23'E]; AM IB.1011 (female), east of Burnett River, QLD [24°S 152°E].

 

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Whitley, G.P. 1931. New names for Australian fishes. The Australian Zoologist 6(4): 310-334 1 fig. pls 25-27 [313]
• Lourie, S.A., Pollom, R.A. & Foster, S.J. 2016. A global revision of the Seahorses Hippocampus Rafinesque 1810 (Actinopterygii: Syngnathiformes): Taxonomy and biogeography with recommendations for further research. Zootaxa 4146(1): 1–66 [43]
• Short, G., Harasti, D. & Hamilton, H. 2019. Hippocampus whitei Bleeker, 1855, a senior synonym of the southern Queensland seahorse H. procerus Kuiter, 2001: molecular and morphological evidence (Teleostei, Syngnathidae). ZooKeys 824: 109-133 [115] (with redescription of Hippocampus whitei)

 

Miscellaneous Literature Names

• Hippocampus novae Hollandiae Steindachner, 1866 [original description spelling].

 

Introduction

IUCN Red List Status: Data Deficient. Work is currently underway by others on the status and distribution of this species. Apparently numerous records of this species are in error, with the species endemic to subtropical eastern Australia. Information treated here is based on information provided by J. Leis and D. Harasti.

 

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland

Extra Distribution Information

North of Mackay, QLD (20º06'S) to Wollongong (34º31´S), NSW; temperate; records from SA, VIC, New Guinea, western Indian Ocean and Vanuatu apparently based on misidentifications, record from Gulf of Carpentaria also probably in error.

Australian Endemic.

IBRA and IMCRA regions

IMCRA

Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39), Northeast Shelf Province (40)

Distribution References

Ecological Descriptors

Benthic, estuary, inshore, rock reef, seagrass.

Extra Ecological Information

0-20m

 

General References

Dawson, C.E. 1986. Family No.145: Syngnathidae. pp. 445-458 in Smith, M.M. & Heemstra, P.C. (eds). Smith's Sea Fishes. Johannesburg : Macmillan South Africa xx + 1047 pp. 144 pls. [454]

Edgar, G.J. 2008. Australian Marine Life: the plants and animals of temperate waters. Sydney : Reed New Holland 2nd edn, 624 pp. [483]

Gomon, M.F. 1997. A remarkable new pygmy seahorse (Syngnathidae Hippocampus) from south-eastern Australia, with a redescription of H. bargibanti Whitley from New Caledonia. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 56(1): 245-253 [248]

Harasti, D., Martin-Smith, K. & Gladstone, W. 2012. Population dynamics and life history of a geographically restricted seahorse, Hippocampus whitei. Journal of Fish Biology 81: 1297–1314

Kuiter, R.H. 1993. Coastal Fishes of South-eastern Australia. Bathurst : Crawford House Press 437 pp. [98]

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. [72]

Kuiter, R.H. 2000. Seahorses, Pipefishes and Their Relatives. Chorleywood, UK : TMC Publishing 240 pp. [14]

Kuiter, R.H. 2001. Revision of the Australian Seahorses of the genus Hippocampus (Syngnathiformes: Syngnathidae) with descriptions of nine new species. Records of the Australian Museum 53: 293-340 [327]

Kuiter, R.H. 2009. Seahorses and their relatives. Seaford, Australia : Aquatic Photographics pp. 331. [19, 42] (and p. 43 as H. procerus)

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. [127]

Martin-Smith, K.M. & Vincent, A.C.J. 2006. Exploitation and trade of Australian seahorses, pipehorses, sea dragons and pipefishes (Family Syngnathidae). Oryx 40: 141-151

McCulloch, A.R. 1929. A check-list of the fishes recorded from Australia. Part I. Memoirs of the Australian Museum 5: 1–144 [96] (as Hippocampus novaehollandiae)

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] [91] (634)

Neira, F.J., Miskiewicz, A.G. & Trnski, T. 1998. Larvae of temperate Australian fishes: laboratory guide for larval fish identification. Nedlands, Western Australia : University of Western Australia press 474 pp.

Paulus, T. 1999. Family Syngnathidae. pp. 2264-2276 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. [2272] (in part, part of Australian distribution only)

Paxton, J.R., Gates, J.E., Hoese, D.F. & Bray, D.J. 2006. Syngnathidae. pp. 810-846 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. [829] (and p. 828, as H. procerus)

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. (422)

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. (also as H. procerus)

Project Seahorse 2003. Hippocampus whitei. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.2.. www.iucnredlist.org

Vincent, A.C.J., Evans, K.L. & Marsden, A.D. 2005. Home range behaviour of the monogamous Australian seahorse, Hippocampus whitei. Environmental Biology of Fishes 72(1): 1-12 [1]

Vincent, A.C.J., Marsden, A.D., Evans, K.L. & Sadler, L.M. 2004. Temporal and spatial opportunities for polygamy in a monogamous seahorse, Hippocampus whitei. Behaviour 141: 141-156 [141]

Vincent, A.C.J. & Giles, B.G. 2003. Correlates of reproductive success in a wild population of Hippocampus whitei. Journal of Fish Biology 63: 344-355 [344]

Vincent, A.C.J. & Sadler, R.M. 1995. Faithful pair bonds in wild seahorses, Hippocampus whitei. Animal Behaviour 50: 1557-1569 [1557]

Whitley, G.P. 1964. A survey of Australian Ichthyology. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 89(1): 11-127 [38] (541)

Wilson, A.B., Ahnesjo, I, Vincent, A.C.J. & Meyer, A. 2003. The dynamics of male brooding, mating patterns, and sex roles in pipefishes and seahorses (family syngnathidae). Evolution 57(6): 1374-1386

 

Common Name References

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. [449] (Whites Seahorse)

Grant, E.M. 1975. Guide to Fishes. Brisbane : Queensland Government, Co-ordinator General’s Department 640 pp. [133] (Common Sea-horse)

Kuiter, R.H. 1992. Tropical Reef-Fishes of the Western Pacific, Indonesia and Adjacent Waters. Jakarta : PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama 314 pp. pls. [18] (White's Seahorse)

Kuiter, R.H. 2001. Revision of the Australian Seahorses of the genus Hippocampus (Syngnathiformes: Syngnathidae) with descriptions of nine new species. Records of the Australian Museum 53: 293-340 [328] (for H. procerus) (High-crown Seahorse)

Paulus, T. 1999. Family Syngnathidae. pp. 2264-2276 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. [2272] (FAO) (White's Seahorse)

Seafood Services Australia 2008. Australian Fish Names Standard. http://www.fishnames.com.au/. (White's Seahorse, Highcrown Seahorse)

 

History of changes

Published	As part of group	Action Date	Action Type	Compiler(s)
27-Jul-2017	SYNGNATHIFORMES	15-Mar-2023	MODIFIED	Dr Doug Hoese Dr Matthew Lockett
25-Jun-2015	SYNGNATHIFORMES	08-Aug-2014	MODIFIED	Dr Dianne Bray (NMV) Dr Doug Hoese (AM) Dr Matthew Lockett (AM)
		27-Jul-2010	MODIFIED