Harlequin Pipefish
| Name: | Harlequin Pipefish |
| Scientific Name: | Micrognathus crinitus |
| Synonym: | Micrognathus ensenadae |
| Family: | Seahorses & Pipefishes |
| Scientific Family: | Syngnathidae |
| Source: | WoRMS AphiaID 278317 |
| Size: | 3.5 - 5 in. |
| Depth Range: | On the reef (10 – 60 ft.) |
| Sightings: | Not usually seen |
The Harlequin Pipefish has a long, snake-like body and a short snout. It is marked with alternating bands of yellow and brown, which have sharp, straight edges. Its dorsal fin is small and translucent.
The Harlequin Pipefish can be found alone on the reef, in crevices, on sponges, and among coral rubble. It feeds on small crustaceans and other tiny invertebrates, which it sucks in through its tube-like snout. Like other Pipefishes, the male is responsible for carrying and nurturing the eggs.
WoRMS treats the Harlequin Pipefish as the same species as the Banded Pipefish, Micrognathus crinitus. It is kept separate here because the bold yellow and brown banding looks so different underwater. Whether such color forms are true species or regional variants is a common open question in marine taxonomy.
Reference: WoRMS, Froese & Pauly (2026), View Source