Q&A with Syd Ascione on bringing the ocean’s most mysterious Syngnathids to an International Stage 

At this year’s 12th Indo-Pacific Fish Conference in Taiwan, our research biologist, Syd Ascione, shared the first-ever analysis of what we know and still don’t know about some of the most fascinating and overlooked members of the Syngnathoidei family: ghostpipefish, trumpetfish, cornetfish, bellowsfish, snipefish, and razorfish. 

 We caught up with Syd to learn about her experience, the species she champions, and the impact of bringing their stories to light!

 This was your first time at IPFC. What was it like stepping into that space?
“It was nerve-wracking, but also incredibly exciting. I felt energized by the chance to give my fish a platform in front of people who might never have encountered them before. It was so rewarding to see how enthusiastic everyone was about my research and watching them light up when I showed pictures of these species was really special.  It was also wonderful to reconnect with colleagues and meet researchers who are equally fish-obsessed and are doing fascinating new work. One highlight was attending talks outside my field, like a session on how fish “grunt” to communicate, which was just so much fun to learn about.”  

Can you tell us more about the talks you gave?
“I gave two talks about findings from my research, one to the general audience and one at a side event on Syngnathoidei fishes. My research reviews what we know about these iconic fishes. These unique fishes have evolved incredible behaviours and morphologies, but we still know surprisingly little about them. My project pulls together the available knowledge and identifies big gaps that future research can fill.” 

Why do you think it’s important to look at what we don’t know about these iconic fishes? 
“These four families of fishes—ghostpipefish, trumpetfish, cornetfish, and bellowsfish, are closely related to seahorses, and together they form their own unique suborder. They are a truly special branch of the tree of life. Each group has evolved remarkable morphologies, behaviours, and ways of life. For example, cornetfish and trumpetfish hide behind larger fish to stalk their prey, while razorfish swim vertically with their heads pointed down. Traits like these novel swimming postures and feeding strategies set them apart from other fish. Studying them is fascinating in its own right, but it also reflects why we do conservation work in the first place. Conservation is about protecting these unique and irreplaceable branches of life that have evolved over millions of years. Without understanding them properly, we risk losing them without even realizing what we’re losing.” 

How has this research helped or how can it help in the conservation of these fishes?
“Our research is already helping refine these species’ IUCN Red List assessments, a process which evaluates a species risk of extinction. At the same time, this study has highlighted key gaps in our knowledge and now serves as a baseline to guide future research and conservation efforts. Having robust and accurate conservation assessments is key to ensuring that proper management and protection measures can be put in place when needed. That way, we can safeguard these extraordinary fishes and preserve their unique role in the tree of life.”

What was a standout moment from the conference?
“The feedback was one of the most rewarding parts of the conference. People were excited to learn about these fishes and came to share their own stories and fun facts with me. Their insights also added valuable information for our Red List work.” 

Did you meet anyone who inspired you or sparked ideas for your work?
“Collaborating with Professor David Booth on the side event was fantastic, his research on seadragons is captivating, and his presentation lit up the room with questions and energy. Another big inspiration was keynote speaker Professor Alifa Haque, who does outstanding work on sharks and rays in Bangladesh. She spent time with us at Project Seahorse earlier this year, and her ability to build meaningful community relationships really stood out to me. Conferences can sometimes feel formal, so it was refreshing to just geek out and have real conversations about these incredible fishes. Everyone was so eager to contribute and share insights that will strengthen our conservation assessments, which was both inspiring and deeply motivating moving forward.” 

What is one thing about these iconic fishes or research in this area that you wish more people understood? 
“I wish everyone could know what I know about them. Once you dive into the details, you can’t help but become fascinated with how unique and fascinating they are. Divers often recognize trumpetfish, cornetfish, or ghostpipefish, but they may not realize how mysterious these species still are to science. I hope more people see them not just as beautiful, but also as species worth studying and protecting.” 

 What’s next?
“We are working on publishing this research so more people can learn about these fishes and hopefully be inspired to investigate the gaps we identified. We are also updating Red List assessments with the new information we gathered at IPFC. It’s exciting to see those conversations already contributing to conservation.” 

 One word to describe IPFC?
“Inspirational!”