Author: Short, Trnski & Ngātiwai, 2021
FBname: Manaia pygmy pipehorse
Comments: This species is observed in mixed habitat on a vertical rock wall covered in encrusting coralline algae, bryozoans, sponges, solitary corals, and turf algae, which faced a rocky outcrop exposed to the open ocean. The rock wall was subject to moderate ocean swell as was evident from the accumulated debris of detached and decomposed algae on the sandy to rubble bottom of the channel at 17-18 m deep. The holotype was collected below the <i>Ecklonia radiata</i> kelp line and it was observed moving about in close proximity to another individual of the same species, which appeared to represent a male-female pair.  (Ref. 125308).