Male pygmy pipehorse (IL2017042302) on 23 April 2017. Depth: 11m.
Friday 28 April 2017
The eastern coastline of the Botany Bay National Park at Kurnell has a number dive sites. While swimming around and between the sites it is possible to see a number of individuals of Sydney pygmy pipehorses, Idiotropiscis lumnitzeri. These pygmy pipehorses tend to stay in the same place for a time and so with careful observation, the same individuals can be seen at the same locations over successive dives. They are very small and difficult to spot and this entry is likely to represent just a small proportion of individuals in the area.
I have dived at Kurnell since April 2008 but only saw my first pygmy pipehorse in the area in late 2013. I only saw a few in early 2014 but since October 2014 I have seen them fairly regularly.
Below are the sightings I have made of pygmy pipehorses. Identifying individual pygmy pipehorses is not easy but using some facial and body patterns along with their location means I believe I can be fairly accurate identifying the same individual from dive to dive. I have given each pygmy pipehorse an ID code which basically represents the date I first saw them. It is almost certain that each pygmy pipehorse was around before I first saw it and also past when I last saw it and the sightings only give a rough indicator of frequency and duration of individual pygmy pipehorses.
| Pygmy pipehorse | Sex | First seen | Last seen | Status | Sightings | Months |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IL2017042302 | Male | 23 April 2017 | 25 April 2017 | Current | 2 | 0.1 |
| IL2017042303 | Male | 23 April 2017 | 25 April 2017 | Current | 2 | 0.1 |
| IL2017042305 | Female | 23 April 2017 | 25 April 2017 | Current | 2 | 0.1 |
| IL2017042306 | Male | 23 April 2017 | 25 April 2017 | Current | 2 | 0.1 |
| IL2017042307 | Female | 23 April 2017 | 25 April 2017 | Current | 2 | 0.1 |
| IL2017042308 | Male | 23 April 2017 | 25 April 2017 | Current | 2 | 0.1 |
| IL2017042310 | Female | 23 April 2017 | 25 April 2017 | Current | 2 | 0.1 |
| IL2017040202 | Male | 2 April 2017 | 23 April 2017 | Current | 3 | 0.7 |
| IL2017042301 | 23 April 2017 | 23 April 2017 | 1 | |||
| IL2017042304 | Male | 23 April 2017 | 23 April 2017 | 1 | ||
| IL2017042309 | Female | 23 April 2017 | 23 April 2017 | 1 | ||
| IL2017013001 | Male | 30 January 2017 | 12 April 2017 | Current | 4 | 2.4 |
| IL2017040201 | Male | 2 April 2017 | 2 April 2017 | 1 | ||
| IL2017040203 | Female | 2 April 2017 | 2 April 2017 | 1 | ||
| IL2017040204 | Female | 2 April 2017 | 2 April 2017 | 1 | ||
| IL2017040205 | Male | 2 April 2017 | 2 April 2017 | 1 | ||
| IL2017010601 | Male | 6 January 2017 | 6 February 2017 | Previous | 6 | 1.0 |
| IL2017020504 | Female | 5 February 2017 | 6 February 2017 | Previous | 2 | 0.0 |
| IL2016123102 | Female | 31 December 2016 | 5 February 2017 | Previous | 11 | 1.1 |
| IL2017011401 | Male | 14 January 2017 | 5 February 2017 | Previous | 5 | 0.7 |
| IL2017011402 | Female | 14 January 2017 | 5 February 2017 | Previous | 6 | 0.7 |
| IL2017012901 | Female | 29 January 2017 | 5 February 2017 | Previous | 4 | 0.1 |
| IL2017013003 | Female | 30 January 2017 | 5 February 2017 | Previous | 3 | 0.1 |
| IL2017013004 | Female | 30 January 2017 | 5 February 2017 | Previous | 3 | 0.1 |
| IL2017013005 | Male | 30 January 2017 | 5 February 2017 | Previous | 3 | 0.1 |
| IL2017013006 | Female | 30 January 2017 | 5 February 2017 | Previous | 3 | 0.1 |
| IL2016123101 | Male | 31 December 2016 | 2 February 2017 | Previous | 10 | 1.0 |
| IL2017010203 | Male | 2 January 2017 | 2 February 2017 | Previous | 7 | 1.0 |
| IL2017010602 | Male | 6 January 2017 | 2 February 2017 | Previous | 2 | 0.9 |
| IL2017013002 | Male | 30 January 2017 | 1 February 2017 | Previous | 2 | 0.0 |
| IL2017012701 | Female | 27 January 2017 | 30 January 2017 | Previous | 2 | 0.1 |
| IL2017012702 | Male | 27 January 2017 | 30 January 2017 | Previous | 2 | 0.1 |
| IL2017011403 | Male | 14 January 2017 | 14 January 2017 | Previous | 1 | 0.0 |
| IL2017010202 | Female | 2 January 2017 | 6 January 2017 | Previous | 4 | 0.1 |
| IL2017010401 | Female | 4 January 2017 | 4 January 2017 | Previous | 1 | 0.0 |
| IL2017010201 | 2 January 2017 | 2 January 2017 | Previous | 1 | 0.0 | |
| IL2016121704 | Male | 17 December 2016 | 24 December 2016 | Previous | 2 | 0.2 |
| IL2016121701 | Male | 17 December 2016 | 17 December 2016 | 1 | ||
| IL2016121702 | Female | 17 December 2016 | 17 December 2016 | 1 | ||
| IL2016121705 | Female | 17 December 2016 | 17 December 2016 | 1 | ||
| IL2016121703 | Male | 17 December 2016 | 17 December 2016 | 1 | ||
| IL2015072601 | Female | 26 July 2015 | 2 January 2016 | Previous | 46 | 5.2 |
| IL2015121201 | Male | 12 December 2015 | 2 January 2016 | Previous | 8 | 0.7 |
| IL2015121501 | Male | 15 December 2015 | 2 January 2016 | Previous | 7 | 0.6 |
| IL2015122201 | Female | 22 December 2015 | 2 January 2016 | Previous | 4 | 0.4 |
| IL2015123101 | Female | 31 December 2015 | 31 December 2015 | Previous | 1 | 0.0 |
| IL2015092701 | Male | 27 September 2015 | 4 December 2015 | Previous | 21 | 2.3 |
| IL2015102401 | Male | 24 October 2015 | 4 December 2015 | Previous | 14 | 1.4 |
| IL2015091201 | Female | 12 September 2015 | 3 November 2015 | Previous | 14 | 1.7 |
| IL2015101801 | Male | 18 October 2015 | 18 October 2015 | 1 | ||
| IL2015091101 | Male | 11 September 2015 | 10 October 2015 | Previous | 11 | 1.0 |
| IL2015070501 | Male | 5 July 2015 | 12 September 2015 | Previous | 20 | 2.2 |
| IL2015072602 | 26 July 2015 | 21 August 2015 | Previous | 6 | 0.8 | |
| IL2015052401 | 24 May 2015 | 5 July 2015 | Previous | 4 | 1.4 | |
| IL2015062701 | 27 June 2015 | 27 June 2015 | 1 | |||
| IL2015050901 | 9 May 2015 | 24 June 2015 | Previous | 9 | 1.5 | |
| IL2015031401 | Male | 14 March 2015 | 14 March 2015 | 1 | ||
| IL2015020801 | Male | 8 February 2015 | 10 March 2015 | Previous | 2 | 1.1 |
| IL2015022801 | Male | 28 February 2015 | 10 March 2015 | Previous | 4 | 0.4 |
| IL2015030601 | 6 March 2015 | 6 March 2015 | 1 | |||
| IL2015020701 | 7 February 2015 | 3 March 2015 | Previous | 5 | 0.9 | |
| IL2015020802 | 8 February 2015 | 28 February 2015 | Previous | 2 | 0.7 | |
| IL2015022802 | 28 February 2015 | 28 February 2015 | 1 | |||
| IL2014100501 | Male | 5 October 2014 | 8 February 2015 | Previous | 25 | 4.1 |
| IL2015010101 | Male | 1 January 2015 | 17 January 2015 | Previous | 3 | 0.5 |
| IL2014121501 | 15 December 2014 | 11 January 2015 | Previous | 2 | 0.9 | |
| IL2014102601 | Female | 26 October 2014 | 7 December 2014 | Previous | 10 | 1.4 |
| IL2014120601 | Male | 6 December 2014 | 6 December 2014 | 1 | ||
| IL2014111601 | 16 November 2014 | 16 November 2014 | 1 | |||
| IL2014042101 | Male | 21 April 2014 | 29 June 2014 | Previous | 11 | 2.3 |
| IL2014051101 | Female | 11 May 2014 | 18 May 2014 | Previous | 3 | 0.2 |
| IL2014032302 | Female | 23 March 2014 | 26 April 2014 | Previous | 9 | 1.1 |
| IL2014042601 | 26 April 2014 | 26 April 2014 | 1 | |||
| IL2014032301 | Male | 23 March 2014 | 5 April 2014 | Previous | 5 | 0.4 |
| IL2014020801 | 8 February 2014 | 8 February 2014 | 1 | |||
| IL2013122601 | Female | 26 December 2013 | 1 January 2014 | Previous | 2 | 0.2 |
These are the pygmy pipehorses that I am still seeing on a regular basis. As their home ranges are relatively small, I see the same seahorses in the same locations dive after dive. While I still see the same seahorses, I will keep them in this section. As it is not easy to identify individual pygmy pipehorses and I'm using location as one of the identifiers, it may not be possible to tell if a pygmy pipehorse in a new location is the same as a previous one. If found elsewhere and they can be positively identified they can stay here. If they disappear from their usual location and don't appear somewhere else, I will move them to the Previous Pygmy Pipehorses category until they are found again.
I saw this male pygmy pipehorse on 23 April 2017. I saw it on a large flat rock near the sand line at The Monument between Split Rock and the Deep Wall. The rock is directly towards the shore from the Carijoa covered rock on the sand line just before the Deep Wall.
Male pygmy pipehorse (IL2017042302) on 23 April 2017. Depth: 11m.
Male pygmy pipehorse (IL2017042302) on 25 April 2017. Depth: 11m.
I saw this male pygmy pipehorse on 23 April 2017. I saw it on a large flat rock near the sand line at The Monument between Split Rock and the Deep Wall. The rock is directly towards the shore from the Carijoa covered rock on the sand line just before the Deep Wall.
Male pygmy pipehorse (IL2017042303) on 25 April 2017. Depth: 11m.
Male pygmy pipehorse (IL2017042303) on 23 April 2017. Depth: 11m.
I saw this female pygmy pipehorse on 23 April 2017. I saw her on a large flat rock near the sand line at The Monument between Split Rock and the Deep Wall. The rock is directly towards the shore from the Carijoa covered rock on the sand line just before the Deep Wall.
Female pygmy pipehorse (IL2017042305) on 23 April 2017. Depth: 10m.
Female pygmy pipehorse (IL2017042305) on 25 April 2017. Depth: 10m.
I saw this male pygmy pipehorse on 23 April 2017. I saw him on a rock on the sand line at the start of the Deep Wall. He's with IL2017042307
Male pygmy pipehorse (IL2017042306) on 23 April 2017. Depth: 12m.
Male pygmy pipehorse (IL2017042306) on 25 April 2017. Depth: 12m.
I first saw this female pygmy pipehorse on 23 April 2017. I saw her on a rock on the sand line at the start of the Deep Wall. She's with IL2017042306.
Female pygmy pipehorse (IL2017042307) on 23 April 2017. Depth: 12m.
Female pygmy pipehorse (IL2017042307) on 25 April 2017. Depth: 12m.
Female pygmy pipehorse (IL2017042307) on 25 April 2017. Depth: 12m.
I saw this male pygmy pipehorse on 23 April 2017. I saw him on the Carijoa covered rock on the sand line just before the Deep Wall.
Male pygmy pipehorse (IL2017042308) on 25 April 2017. Depth: 12m.
Male pygmy pipehorse (IL2017042308) on 23 April 2017. Depth: 12m.
I first saw this female pygmy pipehorse on 23 April 2017. I saw her on the Carijoa covered rock on the sand line just before the Deep Wall.
Female pygmy pipehorse (IL2017042310) on 23 April 2017. Depth: 12m.
Female pygmy pipehorse (IL2017042310) on 25 April 2017. Depth: 12m.
I first saw this male at The Leap. He was on the same rock that Ian's pygmy pipehorses had been on previously. He was on the same rock with IL2017040201, IL2017040203, and IL2017040204.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017040202) on 2 April 2017. Depth: 21m.
I first saw this male at The Monument on a sponge with three other pygmy pipehorses. He's on the same rock with IL2017013002, IL2017013003, and IL2017013006.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017013001) on 30 January 2017. Depth: 13 m.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017013001) on 30 January 2017. Depth: 13 m.
These are pygmy pipehorses that have been seen in the past but have either died or moved to other locations and are no longer seen regularly. They may still be around. If a regular location is found and they can be positively identified, they will be moved back To the Current Pygmy Pipehorses category.
I first saw this male around 20 metres before Seahorse Rock on 6 January 2017. I believe it is the same pygmy pipehorse that Ian told me about on 4 January and he'd seen it previously. I later found a female, IL2017012901.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017010601) on 6 January 2017. Depth: 21 m.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017010601) on 29 January 2017. Depth: 21 m.
This female was pointed out to me on 5 February 2017 on the side of Southern Cross Rock.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017020504) on 5 February 2017. Depth: 19 m.
I first saw this female on Hand Rock on 31 December 2016. I have since seen her multiple times on the rock below Hand Rock.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2016123102) on 31 December 2016. Depth: 15 m.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2016123102) on 2 January 2017. Depth: 14 m.
emale Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2016123102) on 19 January 2017. Depth: 14 m.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2016123102) on 2 February 2017. Depth: 14 m.
I first saw this male at The Monument on a low rock just to the north-west of Split Rock. He was on the same rock with IL2017011402.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017011401) on 14 January 2017. Depth: 12 m.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017011401) on 14 January 2017. Depth: 12 m.
I first saw this female at The Monument on a low rock just to the north-west of Split Rock. She was on the same rock with IL2017011401.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017011402) on 14 January 2017. Depth: 12 m.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017011402) on 27 January 2017. Depth: 13 m.
I first saw this female around 20 metres before Seahorse Rock on 29 January 2017. She's on the same rock with IL2017010601.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017012901) on 29 January 2017. Depth: 21 m.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017012901) on 29 January 2017. Depth: 21 m.
I first saw this female at The Monument . She was in the weed just below a sponge which had three other pygmy pipehorses. She's on the same rock with IL2017013001, IL2017013002, and IL2017013006.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017013003) on 30 January 2017. Depth: 13 m.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017013003) on 5 February 2017. Depth: 12 m.
I first saw this female at The Monument .She was on a rock to the south-east of the rock with the four pygmy pipehorses. She's on the same rock with IL2017013005.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017013004) on 30 January 2017. Depth: 13 m.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017013004) on 5 February 2017. Depth: 12 m.
I first saw this male at The Monument .He was on a rock to the south-east of the rock with the four pygmy pipehorses. He's on the same rock with IL2017013004.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017013005) on 30 January 2017. Depth: 13 m.
I first saw this female at The Monument on a sponge with three other pygmy pipehorses. She's on the same rock with IL2017013001, IL2017013002, and IL2017013003.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017013006) on 30 January 2017. Depth: 13 m.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017013006) on 30 January 2017. Depth: 13 m.
I first saw this small male on the rock below Hand Rock on 31 December 2017.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2016123101) on 31 December 2016. Depth: 15 m.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2016123101) on 2 January 2017. Depth: 14 m.
Mike pointed a female between Big Rock and Diversity Rock on 2 January 2017 and I managed to find this male. He's one of a pair that Roney found the previous day. He's on the same rock with IL2017010202.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017010203) on 2 January 2017. Depth: 13.6 m.
I first saw this male just to the north-west of Big Rock on 6 January 2017. He was low down on rock that was between two other rocks.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017010602) on 6 January 2017. Depth: 21 m.
I first saw this male at The Monument on a sponge with three other pygmy pipehorses. He's on the same rock with IL2017013001, IL2017013003, and IL2017013006.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017013002) on 30 January 2017, with IL2017013001 in background. Depth: 13 m.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017013002) on 30 January 2017. Depth: 13 m.
I first saw this female at The Monument at the base of the start of the shallow wall. She's on the same rock with IL2017012702.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017012701) on 27 January 2017. Depth: 10 m.
I first saw this male at The Monument at the base of the start of the shallow wall. He's on the same rock with IL2017012701.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017012702) on 27 January 2017. Depth: 10 m.
I first saw this male at The Monument on a high rock just to the north-west of Split Rock.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017011403) on 14 January 2017. Depth: 12 m.
Mike pointed out this female between Big Rock and Diversity Rock on 2 January 2017. She's one of a pair that Roney found the previous day. She's on the same rock with IL2017010203.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017010202) on 2 January 2017. Depth: 13.6 m.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017010202) on 2 January 2017. Depth: 13.6 m.
I found this tiny female just below Old Basket Star Rock on 4 January 2017.
Juvenile female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017010401) on 4 January 2017. Depth: 15 m.
Juvenile female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017010401) on 4 January 2017. Depth: 15 m.
Juvenile female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017010401) on 4 January 2017. Depth: 15 m.
I saw this juvenile for the first time on 2 January 2017. Mike pointed it out to me as we were swimming between Hand Rock and Roney's pygmy pipehorses.
Juvenile Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017010201) on 2 January 2017. Depth: 14m.
I first saw this male on 17 December 2016 near Little Big Rock. There was a female (IL2016121705) nearby.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2016121704) on 17 December 2016. Depth: 14 m.
I came across this pygmy pipehorse while looking for IL2015070501. I didn't realised it was a different individual until I looked at the photos. On the next dive on the same day I saw both pygmy pipehorses and realised there were two.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015072601) on 26 July 2015.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015072601) on 1 August 2015.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015072601) on 7 August 2015.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015072601) on 7 August 2015.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015072601) on 15 August 2015.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015072601) on 20 August 2015.
I first saw this male on 12 December 2015 on the same rock as IL2015072601 up from the sand line between Big Rock and the basket star. It appears to have replaced IL2015092701.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015121201) on 12 December 2015.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015121201) on 15 December 2015.
This male was spotted by my dive buddy on 15 December 2015. He's on a rock just above the sand line between the basket star and Diversity Rock (but close to the basket star).
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015121501) on 15 December 2015.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015121501) on 22 December 2015.
I found this female on 22 December on the same rock as IL2015121501 and she appears to be his partner.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015122201) on 22 December 2015.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015122201) on 22 December 2015.
I spotted this small female on Diversity Rock on 31 December 2015.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015123101) on 31 December 2015. Depth: 13 m.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015123101) on 31 December 2015. Depth: 13 m.
This male was first seen on 27 September 2015 on the rock with IL2015072601. He may have replaced IL2015070501 who disappeared 2 weeks earlier.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015092701) on 27 September 2015.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015092701) on 27 September 2015.
This male was first seen on 24 October 2015 on Diversity Rock. It appears he may have replaced or displaced IL2015101801 who replaced/displaced IL2015091101.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015102401) on 24 October 2015.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015102401) on 24 October 2015 with female (IL2015101201).
I found this pygmy pipehorse on 12 September 2015 while looking at the male (IL2015091101) I'd found the day earlier. They are both on a rock near the seahorses.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015091201) on 12 September 2015.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015091201) on 12 September 2015.
I came across this pygmy pipehorse on 11 September 2015 while looking for a red pygmy pipehorse others has spotted. He's on a rock near the seahorses.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015091101) on 11 September 2015.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015091101) on 12 September 2015.
I came across this pygmy pipehorse on 5 July 2015 while looking for one I'd seen a week earlier. It is in a similar location up from the sand line between Big Rock and the basket star.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015070501) on 5 July 2015.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015070501) on 24 July 2015.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015070501) on 25 July 2015.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015070501) on 25 July 2015.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015070501) on 26 July 2015.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015070501) on 1 August 2015.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015070501) on 7 August 2015.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015070501) on 10 August 2015.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015070501) on 15 August 2015.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015070501) on 20 August 2015.
I came across this pygmy pipehorse on an adjacent rock to IL2015070501 and IL2015072601 while waiting for another diver to finish taking photos of those pygmy pipehorses on 26 July 2015. I have seen it most other dives since then.
Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015072602) on 26 July 2015.
Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015072602) on 1 August 2015.
Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015072602) on 07 August 2015.
Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015072602) on 20 August 2015.
I first saw this pygmy pipehorse on Pygmy Rock on 24 May 2015. I saw it a number of times until 5 July 2015.
Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015052401) on 24 May 2015.
Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015052401) on 24 May 2015.
Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015052401) on 26 May 2015.
Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015052401) on 24 June 2015.
Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015052401) on 5 July 2015.
I saw pygmy pipehorse on Pygmy Rock on 9 May 2015 and it was the first I'd seen there since 14 March 2015. Interestingly, this was my first dive at Kurnell since the super storm hit Sydney in late April. I saw this pygmy pipehorse a number of time until 24 June 2015.
Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015050901) on 9 May 2015.
Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015050901) on 10 May 2015.
Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015050901) on 30 May 2015.
Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015050901) on 31 May 2015.
Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015050901) on 14 June 2015.
Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015050901) on 21 June 2015.
Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015050901) on 24 June 2015.
I first saw this guy on 8 February 2015 on Pygmy Rock. I saw him again on 10 March 2015.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015020801) on 8 February 2015.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015020801) on 8 February 2015.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015020801) on 10 March 2015.
I first saw this pygmy pipehorse on 28 February 2015 on Pygmy Rock. I saw it 3 more times until 10 March 2015.
Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015022801) on 28 February 2015.
Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015022801) on 6 March 2015.
Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015022801) on 8 March 2015.
I first saw this rather plain looking pygmy pipehorse on 7 February 2015 on Pygmy Rock. I saw it again over the next few dives and I last saw it on 3 March 2015.
Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015020701) on 7 February 2015.
Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015020701) on 8 February 2015.
Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015020701) on 28 February 2015.
Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015020701) on 1 March 2015.
Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015020701) on 3 March 2015.
I first saw this pygmy pipehorse on 2 February 2015 on Pygmy Rock. There were three others on the rock at the same time. I believe I also saw this individual on 28 February 2015.
Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015020802) on 2 February 2015.
This male pygmy pipehorse was another pointed out by my dive buddy. This pygmy pipehorse hung around for 4 months before finally disappearing. He was on a rock which I later called Pygmy Rock because I saw so many pygmy pipehorses on this rock for 6 months or so.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2014100501) on 5 October 2014.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2014100501) on 5 October 2014.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2014100501) on 20 December 2014.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2014100501) on 18 January 2015.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2014100501) on 8 February 2015.
I first saw this male pygmy pipehorse on 1 January 2015 on Pygmy Rock. I saw him two more times.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015010101) on 1 January 2015.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015010101) on 11 January 2015.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015010101) on 17 January 2015.
I saw this tiny juvenile on Pygmy Rock on 15 December 2014. I saw it again on 11 January 2015.
Juvenile Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2014121501) on 15 December 2014.
Juvenile Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2014121501) on 11 January 2015.
This was the first pygmy pipehorse I found 100% on my own. I chose the rock to look on and found it. She was also the first pink pygmy pipehorse I had seen. She was around for just over a month. She was on a rock in the amphitheatre at The Leap.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2014102601) on 26 October 2014.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2014102601) on 8 November 2014.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2014102601) on 30 November 2014.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2014102601) on 7 December 2014.
This male was pointed out to me by a fellow diver, Di. He was on a rock up from the sand line just past the basket star on the way to The Steps from The Leap. It turns out there was also a female at this location but I didn't see it until 11 May 2014. He was around for over 2 months.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2014042101) on 21 April 2014.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2014042101) on 11 May 2014.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2014042101) on 21 June 2014.
I first saw this female on 11 May 2014. She was in the same location as IL2014042101 which pointed out to me on 21 April by a fellow diver, Di. Apparently this female had been around all the time but I just didn't see her until 11 May. So, even though she was around for over a month, I only saw her twice.
Female pygmy pipehorse (IL2014051101) on 11 May 2014.
Female pygmy pipehorse (IL2014051101) on 18 May 2014.
This female was spotted by my dive buddy on 23 March 2014. It was between The Leap and The Steps up from the sand line before the basket star in a gap with rocks on 4 sides. She was in the same location for a little over a month before disappearing.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2014032302) on 23 March 2014.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2014032302) on 1 April 2014.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2014032302) on 20 April 2014.
One of two white pygmy pipehorses spotted by my dive buddy on 23 March 2014. This male got very pregnant over the couple of weeks we saw it and then it disappeared.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2014032301) on 23 March 2014.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2014032301) on 30 March 2014.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2014032301) on 1 April 2014 showing its full pouch.
This was the first pygmy pipehorse I saw at Kurnell. A fellow diver had told me there was a white individual on Big Rock so I looked on my next dive there and found it.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2013122601) on 26 December 2013.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2013122601) on 26 December 2013.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2013122601) on 01 January 2014.
These are pygmy pipehorses that have only been seen the one time. If they get seen again and positively identified, I'll move them to one of the other categories.
I saw this tiny juvenile on 23 April 2017. I think it is a female but it is too young to be sure. I saw it on a small rock near the sand line at The Monument between Split Rock and the Deep Wall.
Juvenile pygmy pipehorse (IL2017042301) on 23 April 2017. Depth: 12m.
Juvenile pygmy pipehorse (IL2017042301) on 23 April 2017. Depth: 12m.
I saw this male pygmy pipehorse on 23 April 2017. I saw it on a large flat rock near the sand line at The Monument between Split Rock and the Deep Wall. The rock is directly towards the shore from the Carijoa covered rock on the sand line just before the Deep Wall.
Male pygmy pipehorse (IL2017042304) on 23 April 2017. Depth: 10m.
Male pygmy pipehorse (IL2017042304) on 23 April 2017. Depth: 10m.
I saw this female pygmy pipehorse on 23 April 2017. I saw him on the Carijoa covered rock on the sand line just before the Deep Wall.
Female pygmy pipehorse (IL2017042309) on 23 April 2017. Depth: 11m.
Female pygmy pipehorse (IL2017042309) on 23 April 2017. Depth: 11m.
I first saw this male at The Leap. He was on the same rock that Ian's pygmy pipehorses had been on previously. He was on the same rock with IL2017040202, IL2017040203, and IL2017040204.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017040201) on 2 April 2017. Depth: 21m.
I first saw this female at The Leap. He was on the same rock that Ian's pygmy pipehorses had been on previously. She was on the same rock with IL2017040201, IL2017040202, and IL2017040204.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017040203) on 2 April 2017. Depth: 21m.
I first saw this female at The Leap. He was on the same rock that Ian's pygmy pipehorses had been on previously. She was on the same rock with IL2017040201, IL2017040202, and IL2017040203.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017040204) on 2 April 2017. Depth: 21m.
I first saw this male on 2 April 2017 between Big Rock and Hand Rock. He was low down on a rock at appeared to be on his own.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2017040205) on 2 April 2017. Depth: 14m.
I first saw this male between Big Rock and Hand Rock. He was on the top of a rock and his own.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2016121701) on 17 December 2016. Depth: 14 m.
I first saw this female on the rock below Hand Rock. She was pointed out by John and I found a male (IL2016121703) with her
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2016121702) on 17 December 2016. Depth: 15 m.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2016121702) on 17 December 2016. Depth: 15 m.
I first saw this female on 17 December 2016 near Little Big Rock. There was a male (IL2016121704) nearby.
Female Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2016121705) on 17 December 2016. Depth: 14 m.
I first saw this male on 17 December 2017 on the rock below Hand Rock after a female (IL2016121702) was pointed out to me.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2016121703) on 17 December 2016. Depth: 15 m.
This male was first seen on 18 October 2015 on Diversity Rock. It appears he may have replaced or displaced IL2015091101 who was still there last week. When first seen he had a copepod parasite on his head.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015101801) on 18 October 2015.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015101801) on 18 October 2015.
This was a single sighting of this pygmy pipehorse on 27 June 2015. It was up from sand line on the reef between Big Rock and the basket star. I don't remember which rock it was on which is partly why I wasn't able to find it again.
Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015062701) on 27 June 2015.
Another Pygmy Rock single sighting. I saw this one on 14 March 2015.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015031401) on 14 March 2015.
A single sighting of this juvenile pygmy pipehorse on Pygmy Rock on 6 March 2015.
Juvenile pygmy pipehorse (IL2015030601) on 6 March 2015.
I saw this pygmy pipehorse just the one time on Pygmy Rock on 28 February 2015.
Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2015022802) on 28 February 2015.
I saw this male on the large low rock to the north west of Pygmy Rock (other side of the flat top sponge covered rock). I only saw it the one time on 6 December 2014 and could not find it again on subsequent dives.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2014100501) on 6 December 2014.
Male Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2014100501) on 6 December 2014.
I found this juvenile on a low rock on the sand line before Pygmy Rock. I only saw it the one time.
Juvenile Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2014111601) on 16 November 2014.
Juvenile Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2014111601) on 16 November 2014.
I didn't realise I had seen this individual until over a year later when I was reviewing photos and I noticed it behind IL2014032302.
Sydney pygmy pipehorse (IL2014042601) behind another (IL2014032302) on 26 April 2014.
This was a tiny juvenile that my dive buddy found and pointed out to me. At the time I had not yet acquired the skill for finding pygmy pipehorses, at least not this small and cryptic.
Tiny pygmy pipehorse (IL2014020801) on 2 February 2014.