Halicampus punctatus

{{Short description|Species of fish}}

{{Speciesbox

| name = Starry pipefish

| image = HoshiYJall.jpg

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref =

| taxon = Halicampus punctatus

| authority = Kamohara, 1952

| synonyms = {{species list|Yozia punctata|Kamohara, 1952}}

}}

The starry pipefish (Halicampus punctatus) is a species of marine fish of the family Syngnathidae. It is endemic to Japan, found near Honshu, Kyushu, and Okinawa, where it lives in open sandy areas near reefs.{{cite journal | author1 = Vaidyanathan, T. | author2 = Pollom, R. | name-list-style = amp | year = 2017 | title = Halicampus punctatus | journal = The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species | volume = 2017 | page = e.T65367935A67624477 | doi = 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-3.RLTS.T65367935A67624477.en | doi-access = free }} It can grow to lengths of {{convert|17|cm|in}}.{{cite book | author = Dawson, C.E. | year = 1985 | title = Indo-Pacific pipefishes (Red Sea to the Americas) | publisher = The Gulf Coast Research Laboratory Ocean Springs, Mississippi, USA | isbn = 978-0917235009}} It is expected to feed on small crustaceans, similar to other pipefish. This species is ovoviviparous, with males carrying eggs before giving birth to live young. Males may brood at around {{convert|10|cm|in}}.