Herre's Pipefish, Spotted Xenia Pipefish

Siokunichthys herrei is one of the rarest pipefishes in the Indo-Pacific. Herald described it in 1953 from the Philippines, making it the type species of the genus Siokunichthys. The genus name comes from Siokun Bay on the Zamboanga peninsula. Finding this species on a dive is therefore an exceptional event. Scientists believe it lives in association with soft corals of the genus Xenia, though almost nothing is known about its biology or ecology. Each sighting from Romblon’s macro reefs adds directly to scientific knowledge of this almost completely unknown animal. Visit our macro photography dive sites in Romblon for the best chance of an encounter.

Appearance and Identification

Siokunichthys herrei has a vivid, uniform red colouration — one of the most intense reds of any pipefish in the Indo-Pacific. The body is extremely elongated and thread-thin, resembling a bright red filament against algae or soft coral. The snout is long and slender. A small dark eye sits on the tiny head, and a delicate tubular snout is typical of all syngnathids. Furthermore, the species has 12–14 trunk rings — a key character that separates it from Siokunichthys southwelli, which has only 8. In addition, the uniform red colouration without bands or markings instantly distinguishes it from S. nigrolineatus (black lines) and S. breviceps (whitish to grey-green in the Western Pacific).

Habitat and Biology

Very little biology of Siokunichthys herrei in the wild has been published. Scientists believe the species relies on colonies of Xenia soft corals as its host — possibly dependent on them for survival. Like all syngnathids, the male carries eggs in a brood pouch under the tail — the urophorine arrangement that defines the genus. Moreover, no published reports confirm successful captive keeping of this species. Researchers have recorded it from the Philippines, Bismarck Archipelago, Borneo, Celebes Sea, Fiji, Indonesia, Moluccas, New Caledonia, Papua, Solomon Islands, Sulawesi, and Sumatra. Romblon therefore sits well within its range.

Diving with Siokunichthys herrei in Romblon

This species lives in silty substrate and soft coral habitat on Romblon’s macro reefs. Our SDI and TDI trained guides actively search this environment on every dedicated macro dive. Its brilliant red colouration stands out against algae and rubble — yet a trained eye and patience are still essential. Photographing Siokunichthys herrei is consequently a genuine scientific contribution. Submit your sighting to the iNaturalist taxon page to help researchers map its distribution. Finally, full taxonomy is available on the WoRMS species page.