Kyonemichthys rumengani

The thread pipefish (Kyonemichthys rumengani), also known by its Japanese standard name Hari-youji,^[3] is a species of pipefish native to the Pacific Ocean around Indonesia, where it is found at depths from 15 to 20 m (49 to 66 ft).^[2] This species grows to a length of 2.68 cm (1.06 in), and is the only known member of its genus.

Kyonemichthys rumengani
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Syngnathiformes
Family:	Syngnathidae
Subfamily:	Syngnathinae
Genus:	Kyonemichthys
Species:	K. rumengani
Binomial name
Kyonemichthys rumengani M. F. Gomon, 2007[2]

Taxonomy and systematics

Kyonemichthys rumengani was originally described in 2007 based on an adult female specimen collected in the Lembeh Strait, Sulawesi.^[4] Originally it was thought to be related to the pygmy pipehorse genera Acentronura & Idiotropiscis based on morphological similarities, but mitochondrial genetic analyses have found that Kyonemichthys is instead a sister taxon to Urocampus, forming a clade which excludes the phylogenetically distant Acentronura, Idiotropiscis, and Siokunichthys.^[3]

Distribution and habitat

First discovered in Indonesia, Kyonemichthys rumengani appears to be widespread throughout the Indo-Pacific. It has been recorded in the Red Sea off Egypt, the Ryukyu Islands, the Philippines, Fiji, the Mariana Islands & Papua New Guinea.^[3][5] It is found in mixed habitats on shallow coastal reefs & has been observed orienting itself by using bryozoans, hydroids & debris as holdfasts.^[3]