PROC. BIOL. SOC. WASH. 91(1), 1978, pp. 132-157 REVIEW OF THE INDO-PACIFIC PIPEFISH GENUS HIPPICHTHYS (SYNGNATHIDAE) C. E. Dawson Abstract. — The syngnathine pipefish genus Hippichthys Bleeker, 1849 [type-species: H. heptagonus Bleeker (= Syngnathus djarong Bleeker)] is resurrected from synonymy, diagnosed and shown to be a senior synonym of Bombonia Herre, 1927. Descriptions, illustrations, key, nomenclatural discussion and distribution data are given for the three species recognized: H. heptagonus, H. spicifer and H. cyanospilus. The genus Hippichthys Bleeker has historically been confused with other pipefish genera and has been variously treated as valid or relegated to the synonymy of Syngnathus Linnaeus, Corythoichthys Kaup or Ichthyo campus Kaup. This problem has been mentioned briefly in recent reports (Dawson, 1977, 1977a) and I here review Hippichthys, including therein three species commonly referred to Syngnathus or Bombonia Herre. This constitutes one of a series of reviews of tropical pipefish genera which will hopefully provide a foundation for rational analyses of their relationships and dis-tribution. In Hippichthys, point of dorsal-fin origin ranges from center of penulti-mate trunk ring to center of the 3rd tail ring. Point of dorsal-fin origin, estimated to nearest ^/4 of ring length, is recorded (Table 3) in % ring in-tervals before (+) and after (-) anterior margin of 1st tail ring (O-point). Paired or equivalent pectoral-fin ray counts (Table 2) represent equal counts in right and left fins. Measurements of standard length (SL) or total length (TL) were made to the nearest 0.5 millimeter (mm); trunk depth is the greatest distance between outer margins of superior and median ventral trunk ridges; other counts and measurements follow Dawson (1976). Ma-terials examined are listed by general localities from west to east and roughly north to south; the map delineates general distribution and may not show all collection sites in immediate vicinity of symbols. Abbreviations for repositories of examined material: AMNH — American Museum of Natural History; AMS — Australian Museum, Sydney; ANSP — Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia; BMNH — British Museum (Natural History); BOG — Bingham Oceanographic Gollection, Peabody Mu-seum; BPBM — Bernice P. Bishop Museum; GAS — Galifornia Academy of Sciences; GAS-SU — former Stanford University specimens now housed at GAS; FMNH— Field Museum of Natural History; GGRL— Gulf Goast Research Laboratory Museum; HUJ — Hebrew University, Jerusalem; MGZ — Museum of Gomparative Zoology, Harvard University; MNHN — Museum
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