About Stigmatopora nigra Kaup, 1856
Stigmatopora nigra (common name: wide-bodied pipefish) is a species of marine fish in the Syngnathidae family. It can be found in shallow waters, bays, and estuaries of southern Australia stretching from Shark Bay to Brisbane, as well as in Tasmania and New Zealand. It most often inhabits seagrass beds, algae beds, and bare sand areas. Its diet is made up of small crustaceans, specifically including copepods and amphipods. Brooding adult males of this species measure between 6.5 and 7 centimeters in length. This species reproduces via ovoviviparity: males brood up to 25 eggs inside a pouch located below their tail, before giving birth to live young. Stigmatopora nigra has a maximum recorded lifespan of 150 days, and individuals are able to reproduce year-round.
