messmate pipefish

{{Short description|Species of fish}}

{{Speciesbox

| image = PipeFish.jpg

| status = LC

| status_system = IUCN3.1

| status_ref = {{cite iucn |author=Gillespie, K. |author2=Pollom, R. |date=2016 |title=Corythoichthys haematopterus |volume=2016 |page=e.T46102624A46665234 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-1.RLTS.T46102624A46665234.en |access-date=19 November 2021}}

| taxon = Corythoichthys haematopterus

| authority = (Bleeker, 1851)

|synonyms=*Corythroichthys elerae Evermann & Seale, 1907

• Corythroichthys isigakius Jordan & Snyder, 1901
• Ichthyocampus papuensis Sauvage, 1880
• Syngnathus crenulatus Weber, 1913
• Syngnathus haematopterus Bleeker, 1851

| synonyms_ref =

}}

The messmate pipefish (Corythoichthys haematopterus) is a species of marine fish in the family Syngnathidae. It is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-Pacific region, from the eastern coast of Africa to the Vanuatu Islands. This species can reach a length of 19.8 cm.{{FishBase|Corythoichthys|haematopterus|month=February|year=2018}} It occasionally makes its way into the aquarium trade where it is known as the dragonfaced pipefish.[http://www.liveaquaria.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=15+267+282&pcatid=282 Saltwater Aquarium Fish for Marine Reef Aquariums: Dragonface Pipefish]. Liveaquaria.com. Retrieved on 2016-12-06.

Other common names are bloodspot pipefish, reef pipefish, reeftop pipefish and yellow-streaked pipefish.

The messmate pipefish exhibits biofluorescence, that is, when illuminated by blue or ultraviolet light, it re-emits it as yellow, and appears differently than under white light illumination. Biofluorescence may assist in intraspecific communication and camouflage.{{cite journal|title=The Covert World of Fish Biofluorescence: A Phylogenetically Widespread and Phenotypically Variable Phenomenon|journal= PLOS ONE|volume= 9|issue= 1|pages= e83259|doi= 10.1371/journal.pone.0083259|pmid= 24421880|pmc= 3885428|year= 2014|last1= Sparks|first1= John S.|last2= Schelly|first2= Robert C.|last3= Smith|first3= W. Leo|last4= Davis|first4= Matthew P.|last5= Tchernov|first5= Dan|last6= Pieribone|first6= Vincent A.|last7= Gruber|first7= David F.|bibcode= 2014PLoSO...983259S|doi-access= free}}