The short-tailed pipefish (Microphis brachyurus) is a species of fish in the family Syngnathidae.

It is found in fresh and brackish waters from Sri Lanka and India east to southern Japan and the Society Islands.

[2] It inhabits places with little or no current in rivers, streams and estuaries.

[3] It formerly included three subspecies, but these are now regarded as separate species: Microphis aculeatus of the East Atlantic region, Microphis lineatus of the West Atlantic and Caribbean regions, and Microphis millepunctatus of the Western Indian Ocean region.

[2][4] The short-tailed pipefish reaches up to 22 cm (8.7 in) in standard length.