Pipefish

Organisms / Vertebrates / Fish

Syngnathus sp.

Sunshine Key Resort and RV Park, Ohio Key (24.672N, 81.247W)

March 21, 2008

Photograph by Liza Habenicht/Andrea Rettger

 

Descriptive Information

    Field Marks: Moderately long snout and a rounded tail. Color was cream and brown.
    Size: 6 inches (15.2 cm) long.
    General Habitat: Shallow waters right offshore.
    Range: Unsure due to inability to pinpoint exact species.

Field Observations
We caught the pipefish with a net in about one foot of water in a sandy/grassy area. The fish lacked dorsal and pectoral fins, which would indicate that it was the Finless Pipefish (Pen etopteryx nanus), but the published range of this species (Bahamas and Isle de Providencia in the western Carribean) does not extend to where we found the specimen. The coloration and most other characteristics matched the Gulf Pipefish. The only inconsistency was that we did not observe a dorsal fin. It moved in a snake-like back-and-forth motion with the head superior to the tail.

References
Alden, Peter, Richard B. Cech, Amy Leventer, Gil Nelson, and Wendy B. Zomlefer. National Audubon Society Field Guide to Florida. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1998.

Smith, C. Lovett. National Audubon Society Field Guide to Tropical Marine Fishes. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1997.

Additional Photographs/Videos
In Cooler

Page developed by Liza Habenicht and Andrea Rettger